On Thursday (24/10/2019) the European Parliament voted on a resolution on Search and Rescue in the Mediterranean. Two votes were needed for the resolution to be accepted as a whole.

Conservative EPP and rightwing liberal forces joined with the far-right and neo-nazis to vote against the resolution. They chose to argue over small details and commas. They chose to ignore human rights and forego saving people’s lives. The far-right were loudly clapping and cheering when the resolution was rejected. Amongst the EPP MEPs who voted against were PN’s own Roberta Metsola and David Casa. Remember that, two votes were needed to accept this resolution. In Europe the PN is embracing the rhetoric and policies of the far-right.

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party European Affairs spokesperson Mina Tolu said: “The resolution laid out that the UNHCR says that the route from Libya to Europe is still the migration route with the highest death toll in the world (646 deaths so far in 2019) and was five times deadlier in 2018 than in 2015 notably due to a reduction in search and rescue (SAR) activities off the Libyan coast. Let’s not forget that saving lives is not only an act of solidarity but a legal obligation under international law.”

“The resolution that was rejected included the following calls for:

• the Commission to support Search and Rescue financially and politically;
• Member States to support the UNHCR’s evacuation operations from Libya and to intensify resettlement measures and allow for safe and legal pathways, i.e. humanitarian corridors to the EU;
• the Commission to work on a permanent approach to Search and Rescue rather than rely on ad hoc solutions. Again, including providing financial support in Member States;
• the Council to put forward a position on a fair and sustainable distribution mechanism and solidarity between Member States.”

“Why did Maltese MEPs chose to vote against a resolution that respects human rights, that would allow for more financial support for Member States, including Malta, to engage in Search and Rescue missions, and for fair and sustainable distribution mechanisms and tangible solidarity between all EU Member States?”

Mina Tolu concluded: “It is important to continue to fight for a search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean. Let’s support those who saves lives! A search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean and the decriminalisation of humanitarian assistance is crucial.”

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2019-0154_EN.pdf

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MEPs tal-PN jingħaqdu mal-lemin estrem

Il-Ħamis li għadda (24 ta’ Ottubru 2019), il-Parlament Ewropew ivvota fuq riżoluzzjoni dwar it-Tiftix u s-Salvataġġ fil-Mediterran. Ir-riżoluzzjoni m’għaddietx b’żewġ voti biss. Huwa ta’ għajb li forzi konservattivi ‘demokristjani’ tal-PPE u liberali tal-lemin, ingħaqdu mal-lemin estrem inkluż man-neo-nazzisti biex jimminaw ir-riżoluzzjoni. Huma għażlu li jfettqu u jargumentaw fuq dettalji żgħar tar-riżoluzzjoni. Għażlu li jinjoraw id-drittijiet tal-bniedem u jabbandunaw lill-persuni li qed jegħrqu fil-Mediterran. L-għajjat u l-istorbju tal-lemin estrem kien ovvju hekk kif ir-riżoluzzjoni m’għaddietx. Fost il-Membri Parlamentari Ewropej tal-PPE li vvutaw kontra r-riżoluzzjoni hemm Roberta Metsola u David Casa tal-PN. Il-PN f’fora tal-Unjoni Ewropea mid-dehra qed jaddotta politika tal-lemin estrem.

Il-kelliem ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika għall-politika Ewropea, Mina Tolu saħaq:“Ir-riżoluzzjoni kienet tisħaq li skont l-UNHCR ir-rotta mil-Libja għall-Ewropa hija r-rotta tal-migrazzjoni bl-ogħla numru ta’ mwiet fid-dinja. Sa issa fl-2019 kien hemm 646 imwiet. Fl-2018 kien hemm ħames darbiet aktar mwiet milli fl-2015 minħabba tnaqqis fl-attivitajiet ta’ tiftix u salvataġġ (SAR) fl-ibħra barra l-kosta Libjana. Is-salvataġġ mhuwiex biss att ta’ solidarjetà iżda obbligu legali taħt il-liġi internazzjonali.”

“Din ir-riżoluzzjoni li ġiet miċħuda tinkludi sejħiet biex:

• il-Kummissjoni Ewropea tappoġġja t-Tiftix u s-Salvataġġ kemm finanzjarjament, kif ukoll politikament;
• l-Istati Membri jappoġġjaw il-missjonijiet ta’ evakwazzjoni tal-UNHCR mil-Libja u jintensifikaw il-koperazzjoni bejniethom fuq l-immigrazzjoni u fuq mekkaniżmi siguri u legali għall-migrazzjoni, bħal kurituri umanitarji għall-UE;
• il-Kummissjoni taħdem fuq approċċ permanenti ta’ Tiftix u Salvataġġ minflok ma tistrieħ fuq soluzzjonijiet ad hoc. Għal darb’oħra, inkluż li tipprovdi appoġġ finanzjarju lill-Istati Membri;
• il-Kunsill iressaq pożizzjoni dwar mekkaniżmu ta’ distribuzzjoni ġust u sostenibbli, u solidarjetà bejn l-Istati Membri kollha.”

“L-MEPs tal-PN Maltin għażlu li jivvutaw kontra riżoluzzjoni li tirrispetta d-drittijiet tal-bniedem, u anke li kienet tfisser aktar appoġġ finanzjarju għall-Istati Membri, inkluż għal Malta għal missjonijiet ta’ Tiftix u Salvataġġ.  Minkejja r-retorika tagħhom għażlu li jivvutaw kontra ta’ mekkaniżmi ta’ distribuzzjoni ġusti u sostenibbli. Ivvutaw kontra s-solidarjeta’ bejn pajjiżi membri flimkien mal-lemin estrem.”

Mina Tolu insista li huwa importanti li fil-Parlament Ewropew titkompla l-ġlieda għal responsabilita’ kollettiva tal-Unjoni Ewropea għal missjonijiet ta’ tiftix u salvataġġ (SAR) fil-Mediterran. “Ejja nappoġġjaw lil min isalva ħajjet il-persuni mill-għarqa! Min jagħti l-għajnuna fl-ibħra ta’ madwarna għandu bżonn l-appoġġ tal-Unjoni Ewropea u l-Istati Membri kollha.”

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2019-0154_MT.pdf