Speaking in Budapest, Hungary, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo requested Hungarian support for a tough stand which he will be taking at the next European Union (EU) Foreign Ministers’ Council on the lack of real commitment from the EU with regard to illegal immigration to Malta. The Minister stated that “The European Union is dealing with Malta with the mentality of ‘small countries, small problems’ and this is unacceptable”.
During a bilateral meeting with the Hungarian counterpart Minister Kinga Goncz, Minister Frendo told said that while the EU is focusing all attention it’s to give assistance to Spain, “Malta is being left in the lurch”. According to Minister Frendo, the recent landings in Malta in the last 10 days are equivalent, with regard to population density, to over 50,000 illegal immigrants landing in Spain in the same period. “The Canaries do not have that level of a problem”, Foreign Minister Frendo insisted. “I will take a very tough stance at the next General Affairs and External Relations Council and request your support in this matter,” added the Minister.
The new Hungarian Foreign Minister said that she fully understood the uniqueness of Malta’s illegal immigration problem and the seriousness of the situation for such a small country. During the bilateral meeting in Budapest, which lasted for over an hour, Minister Frendo explained in detail the difficult challenges Malta is facing with the situation of illegal migration.
Foreign Minister Frendo said that Malta, as part of the central Mediterranean route for illegal immigration, is being affected very badly as a result of action being carried out only on the Western Mediterranean route. Speaking about the Rabat Ministerial Conference on illegal immigration, Minister Frendo added that Malta will not accept a Declaration that is not open for signature also by countries which have not been invited to participate in Morocco. Malta will also refuse a situation where no space is provided in the post-conference Follow-Up Committee also for countries which have not been invited to participate in the Conference. “Malta will insist on the holding of the Tripoli Conference and a date for this needs to be set immediately. This must be a conference which approaches the issue holistically in a meeting of countries of origin, transit and destination” emphasised Minister Frendo.
The two Ministers of Foreign Affairs also discussed the latest developments in the Western Balkans namely, the recent independence of Montenegro and the future status of Kosovo. Minister Frendo also briefed his counterpart on Malta’s position on the ‘Working Time Directive’ emphasising that this was an issue of competitiveness for the whole of the European Union.
Minister Frendo invited Dr. Goncz to pay a visit to Malta together with a Hungarian commercial delegation. The Hungarian Foreign Minister has accepted Minister Frendo’s invitation.
On Friday, a further 48 illegal immigrants reached Maltese shores. In the past 48 hours, over 350 illgeal immigrants entered Malta.
Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature:
Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.
See also:
Malta insists on EU aid in illegal immigration crisis
By Giselle Borg Olivier
Jun 14, 2006, 10:49 CET
Almost 300 irregular immigrations in one day
By MaltaMedia News
Jun 28, 2006, 17:59 CET
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