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European Parliament EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ««« « « 2004 « « 2009 « « ««« Committee on Budgets 19.9.2007 NOTICE TO MEMBERS Subject: Delegation to Malta, 13-15 September 2007, Summary of meetings held Summary A delegation from the Committee on Budgets visited Valletta, Malta, on 13 -15 September 2007. The final programme of meetings is attached. The members who participated in the delegation were: Ralf Walter (Vice-Chairman), Janusz Lewandowski (Vice-Chairman), Vladimir Manka, Libor Roucek, Salvador Garriga Polledo. Simon Busuttil and Louis Grech attended in an hors quota capacity, as well as Joseph Muscat at the dinner with representatives of the Parliament of Malta (Kamra tad-Deputati). This note provides a summary of the main points discussed at each of the meetings in the order in which they were held. Joint meeting with Dr Tonio Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Home Affairs and Ms. Dolores Cristina, Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity Dr Borg told the committee that this year's irregular migration was up to the day on a slightly lower level than 2006. He acknowledged that the EU is funding certain aspects of the migration problem, although it had took some time for the EU to understand the urgency of the situation faced by Malta. Due to the geographical situation, in Malta there was no hinterland where the migrants could be transferred to. He therefore appealed to the EU aGainst one-size –fits –all schemes. Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina told the committee that since 2004 the number of irregular migrants handled by the Maltese authorities had grown from 100 to 2000 CM\685437EN.doc PE394.119v01-00 EN EN people. There were currently nine pen centres on the island. The Head of the Delegation, Mr. Walter replied that migration was not a problem that pertained exclusively to Malta. He recalled the early nineties, when Germany had an influx of up to 700.000 migrants per year. For him, migration had to be tackled at the source, by helping the countries of origin in order to achieve stability and by a burden-sharing approach between the member states after arrival of refugees. This would mean every country, including Malta, has its obligations concerning integration work. Visit of the Armed Forces of Malta, Maritime Squadron Head Quarters, Luqa Barracks It is the Maltese Armed Forces who are responsible for bringing boat people to safety in cases where they are in distress. Lieutenant Colonel Emanuel Mallia explained the practical problems that the AFM are facing during the summer months when intercepting boats going north: lack of co-operation of the Libyan authorities, the provisions of the Law of the Sea outside the 12 miles zone and lack of material (vessels, helicopters, airplanes) and an unsatisfactory participation of Member states or for a less than satisfactory duration. He explained in what consisted phases I (until end July 2007) and II of the FRONTEX operation "Nautilus" in which the following Members states participated: Germany, Greece, France, Italy, Spain and Malta. He made the AFM's case for investment in another patrolling vessel, which estimated costs are of about EUR 17 million. Visit of the Reception Centre at Marsa Mr. Terry Gosden of the open centre in Marsa told the committee that the centre was currently hosting 800 refugees, mostly men of Eritrean and Somali origin who were moving freely on the island and of which one half was employed under more or less stable conditions. Meeting with Non-governmental organisations working on immigration and asylum issues These NGOs assist migrants in detention for integration or resettlement purposes. The following representatives of Non-governmental organisations were present: Philippa Arrigo, SOS Malta, Marie Pisani, International Organisation for Migration, Neil Falzon of United Nations High commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Katerine Camiller, Jesuit Refugee Service, and Alfred Vella and Anthony Cilia from the Emigrant Commission. Maria Pisani froM International Organisation for Migration stated that the migrants were stuck in Malta, most of them do not want to stay because of the provisions of the Dublin convention (preventing an applicant from submitting applicatIons in multiple Member states). Neil Falzon (UNHCR) pointed out that Racism and Xenophobia were a current problem with the Maltese population and that it was no surprise that migrants didn't want to stay in Malta because the government was not doing enough to try to integrate them. Getting funds from an EU program was a burdensome process which Maltese NGOs, due to their limited size, are PE394.119v01-00 2/4 CM\685437EN.doc EN too often wary of initiating. Alfred Vella from the Emigrant Commission deplored that his organization had never benefited from any EU funding. When asked by the committee why this had been so, he replied that he did not know were the problem laid, but that he had never had an audit report from the European Commission. Philippa Arrigo from SOS Malta deplored that integration of migrants in Malta was not very high on the agenda. Katrine Camilleri from the Jesuit Refugee Service criticized the deplorable conditions in which migrants were held. Press conference of the delegation Mr. Walter pointed out that the success of any FRONTEX activity depended heavily on resources and material provided by Member states. Moreover, some legal basis for actions intended to relieve the problem were still missing, due mainly to the Councils failure to act. The problem was complex and could not be solved in one fell swoop. The EU's priority was to solve the problem at the source, e.g. by helping the concerned African countries. Criminal organisations which exploit the situation of the migrants should be fought against. He praised the work of FRONTEX, which had coordinated the Nautilus I operation which helped to reduce migration to 60 per cent compared to July 2006. Equally he highlighted the excellent work of the NGOs in place. In total, the EU had allocated EUR 5.86 billion for immigration- related programs in all 27 Member States. Activities by Members not forming part of the official programme of the Delegation MEPs from the EPP-ED group, namely Simon Busuttil, David Casa, Janusz Lewandowski and Salvador Garriga Polledo visited the Floriana Granaries during the celebrations organised by the Nationalist Party in the run-up to Independence Day which is on 21 September 2007. MEPs from the PSE Group, namely Louis Grech, Ralf Walter and Libor Roucek met with Opposition leader Alfred Sant from the Labour Party. Delegation to Malta, 13-15 September 2007 Programme Thursday, 13 September 2007 15.30-18.30 COBU meeting in Brussels 19.00 Transport to Brussels Airport 20.10 Flight SN 5683 to Valletta Friday, 14 September 2007 8.30-9.30 Briefing by Mr. Julian Vassallo, Head of the EP Information Office in Valletta 9.30-10.30 Joint meeting with Dr Tonio Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Home Affairs and Ms. Dolores Cristina, Minister for the Family CM\685437EN.doc 3/4 PE394.119v01-00 EN and Social Solidarity 10.45-13.00 Visit of the Armed forces of Malta (AFM), Maritime Squadron Head Quarters, Haywharf in Floriana 13.00-14.30 Lunch 14.30-16.15 Visit of the Marsa open Reception Centre 16.30-18.30 Meeting with NGOs working on immigration and asylum issues, Corinthia Hotel 20.00 Dinner with Members of the Maltese Parliament (Kamra tad-Deputati) Saturday, 15 September 2007 11.30 - 12.30 Press conference of the delegation, organized by EP information office in Valletta 14.45 End of delegation, transfer to airport 16.15 Flight back to Brussels or Constituencies PE394.119v01-00 4/4 CM\685437EN.doc EN.
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