EU still needs to work on implementing migration policy - Abela

Foreign Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela yesterday conceded that the Europe Union still had a lot of work to do when it came to implementing its own migration policy with member states.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Abela acknowledged that while agreements seemed to have been reached when it came to dealing with issues on the EU’s external borders, and working with countries of origin and countries of transit; internal issues, such as relocation, resettlement, and point of entry remain difficult.

“All this does is put more pressure on EU border states, other member states need to get involved, this is the focus of ongoing discussions.”

Concerns have been rising over a potential influx of asylum seekers during summer as Italy elected populist political parties who scrambled to form a coalition following months of negotiations.

Italy’s new Home Affairs Minister and Leader for the junior coalition partner, Matteo Salvini, has been openly hostile to international obligations and has outright refused any entry from migrants boats not carrying the Italian flag, complimenting in two high-profile diplomatic standoffs, most nattily with the Aquarius, which was only solved with Span’s intervention.

Abela was asked on the current state of discussions with his Italian counterpart, who he last met prior to the EU Council Summit on 29 June at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

“The main message is that we need to work together, we have been discussing this issue [at EUlevel] for a long time and we know what we have to do.”

Pressed as to whether there would be any immediate solutions, given that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat noted that no significant breakthroughs had been made at the meeting, Abela said that this all depends on what actions member states will take.

“It was positive that the Lifeline issue was settled with an ad-hoc agreement from eight European states, showing that we can come together and find solidarity. We should be happy with that, but I have to stress that this was an ad-hoc arrangement, and may not happen in other cases. It has not set any precedent.”

Abela also stressed that the work at the EU council, specifically with regards to NGOs, was also a positive sign.

The recent EU Council conclusions came under fire during a European Parliament session on 3 July, with MEPs taking aim at the lack solid conclusions and decisions taken.

The Council has so far reached an agreement to set up “controlled centres”, within the EU where newly-arrived migrants and asylum-seekers can stay while their status is clarified.

The centres will be used to process asylum applications and differentiate between genuine refugees and irregular economic migrants. All migrants found in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations will be taken to the disembarkation centres. Location of resettlement will continue to be taken on a voluntary basis.

Sea-Watch rescue operations aircraft blocked by Maltese Authorities

Humanitarian group Sea Watch has said that the civil search aircraft Moonbird has been blocked from conduction operations from Malta.

The Maltese government has reportedly confirmed the move, which comes after the government officially closed all ports to NGO ships operating to and from Malta.

The aircraft is operated by Sea Watch and the Swiss Humanitarian Pilots.

“From now on no search flights in the search area north of the Libyan coast are possible anymore,” Sea Watch said.

“About 1000 would have drowned for sure if our #Moonbird would not have found their sinking boats at the last second. Now, this life-saving asset is blocked as well by #EU authorities, even if we face the deadliest days since records started. Witnesses are obviously not welcome.”

The aircraft has been involved in the rescue of 20,000 people.