Nationalist Party MEP Simon Busuttil tabled proposals at the European Parliament to create a burden sharing mechanism which would enable EU Member States to take immigrants from member states like Malta which are facing a disproportionate burden from immigration.
The proposal was submitted as an amendment to the 2009 EU budget.
The proposal calls for the setting up of an European resettlement programme whereby EU countries would be able to host refugees and beneficiaries of international protection from other EU countries, such as Malta, which are facing a disproportionate burden. The scheme would be operated at European level on a voluntary basis.
The proposals will first be debated and voted in the Parliament’s Budgets Committee in the coming weeks.
In a press statement Busuttil acknowledged that getting other countries to share the burden is easier said than done.
“They all feel that they have problems of their own with immigration. But this is another attempt to overcome this long-standing resistance.” Busuttil said.
Meanwhile Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday voiced its support for Busuttil’s proposal.
AD Chairperson Arnold Cassola said: “Simon Busuttil’s proposal makes a lot of sense and follows closely on the heels of Green MEP Jean Lambert’s report which was approved two weeks ago in the European Parliament and which is asking for increased responsibilty sharing amongst the countries of the EU as well as for a revision of the Dublin regulations to allow asylum seekers to move from small countries like Malta to other EU countries whilst awaiting the result of their asylum application”.
Stephen Cachia, Alternattiva Demokratika Spokesperson on Democracy and Civil Rights, said: “If the Busuttil proposal were adopted this would give the possibility to refugees granted political asylum or under the protection of the EU to relocate voluntarily from a small country like Malta to another larger country in the EU, something which is not yet possible at the moment”.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
