 |
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Michael Frendo is taking the initiative to try to push for the start of a new relationship between the European Union, its member states and the Arab world.
In a meeting with EU-Brussels based journalists last week, Minister Frendo revealed that he has written to the current Finnish EU Presidency, proposing a summit at foreign minister level, if necessary in Malta, to discuss how the essential dialogue between the EU and the Arab world could evolve further and even deepen, according to The Sunday Times.
Dr Frendo said that although Malta is doing more than its fair share, there needs to be more solidarity among EU member states. He said the issue cannot be solved by throwing money at it, but by offering concrete solidarity, The Sunday Times added. Malta's aim is to persuade the other member states to participate actively in "burden-sharing".
"We need the other member states to share our problems by offering more assistance and by taking also some of the asylum-seekers and refugees themselves. The Netherlands, Germany and Ireland have already done so, even if in small numbers. There is also some interest currently shown from Lithuania. However, all member states should realise that this is an EU problem and they should also carry the burden."
Asked about his expectations from the EU-African Union summit this week in Tripoli discussing migration, Dr Frendo said that the fact that Libya has agreed to host this meeting is already a positive sign in itself as it is assuming ownership of the problem, according to The Sunday Times.
Dr Frendo said that although Libya has a problem controlling its own borders, it is one of the main countries of transit for illegal immigration. Part of the solution would be if Libya is 'on board' to fight this problem together with the EU, he added.
Minister Frendo admitted that although Malta has tried several times to have a bilateral agreement with Libya on the repatriation of illegal immigrants, Tripoli is still resisting the idea. He said that the EU is also trying to reach the same kind of agreement; however Libya made requests, particularly of a financial nature, which cannot be met.
This issue was also discussed during the two-day official visit in Denmark where Minister Frendo held talks with Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Per Stig Moeller. He also visited Malta's new Scandinavia regional Embassy in Copenhagen and addressed the Danish Foreign Policy Association on "Illegal immigration: is there a solution?"
Foreign Minister Frendo also explained to the Danish Foreign Minister about Malta's initiative to have a meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU and the Arab League.
"This initiative is intended to have these two neighbouring parts of the world discussion political issues and their political and economic relationship in an exercise of pre-emptive dialogue" Michael Frendo explained.
Foreign Minister Frendo explained that he had written to the Presidency on this matter and he had also discussed it with the Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa.
Foreign Minister Frendo said that illegal immigration is presenting serious difficulties for Malta. “The biggest challenges for Malta in this issue are identification and repatriation of illegal immigrants” Dr. Frendo told his Danish counterparts, adding that this was the reason why Malta has proposed to the European Union to introduce a European travel document to be accepted by third countries, particularly those adhering to the Cotonou Agreement, in the process of the repatriation of illegal immigrants to their countries of origin.
Minister Frendo thanked the Danish government for providing experts to assist Maltese authorities during the identification process of the countries of origin of illegal immigrants.
“We think that Commissioner Frattini is working well in a focussed manner to address this problem but the EU and its member states still have more to do. It is imperative that this issue is addressed by all in the European Union as a whole in a process of burden-sharing”, Malta’s Foreign Minister said.
Earlier Foreign Minister Frendo visited an offshore wind-farm operated by DONG Energy, just a few kilometres off the coast of Copenhagen. The Danish Energy Authority and Danish energy company, Vestas, gave a detailed presentation to the Maltese delegation about Denmark’s wind energy programs and forthcoming developments.
Malta’s Ambassador to Denmark Dr Noel Buttigieg Scicluna accompanied Foreign Minister Frendo throughout the visit, together with Mr. Paul Radmilli, First Secretary and Mr. Chris Scicluna from the Minister's Secretariat.
© Copyright 2006 - MaltaMedia Online Network
Top of Page
|
|
|
Government & Politics
Latest Headlines
|
|
