Yesterday evening, a few hours after being officially confirmed as one of Malta’s Members of the European Parliament, Dr Roberta Metsola called on the European Union to take effective, permanent and concrete action to tackle migration and asylum issues.
During a debate with EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, MEP Metsola called for a definitive date for the Commission to set up a permanent voluntary relocation scheme within the European Union.
Relocation is the transfer of beneficiaries or applicants for international protection from one Member State to another, with the receiving Member State assuming responsibility for examining the application for international protection or for integration measures.
On 2 December 2011, the European Commission adopted a Communication on ‘Enhanced intra-EU solidarity in the field of asylum – an EU agenda for better responsibility-sharing and more mutual trust’, in which it said that it would propose a voluntary permanent scheme for relocation of beneficiaries of international protection. To date this has not been proposed.
Dr Metsola emphasised that there can be no compromises on human rights and that while Malta should continue to ensure that its responsibilities and obligations with regard to immigration are respected, it was time other Member States did more to alleviate the disproportionate pressure on Malta.
“Speeches and declarations are all well and good, but solidarity must translate into action” added Dr Metsola
In comments after the plenary debate, Dr Metsola said that Malta faces specific and disproportionate pressure on its asylum and reception systems, due in particular to its geographical or demographic situation, and a permanent relocation scheme would be a welcome first-step for Europe, even if it is voluntary and would remove the necessity of setting up ad hoc projects and would allow for a proper European response. It would not solve Malta’s problems overnight, but it would be a step in the right direction.
For more information:
Roberta Metsola MEP Tel. 0033 3 881 76230
David Stellini, Tel. 0032 473541926
