Veto: What game is the Prime Minister playing?

With regards to the irregular migration issue, Robert Callus, Alternattiva Demokratika spokesperson on Social Affairs, said: “The only solution to the problem is a political one. On the one hand, Libya must be persuaded to sign and ratify the Geneva convention on protection of refugees, on the other, the EU countries must be persuaded to give their solidarity in practice, consent to responsibility sharing, and review the Dublin convention as the European Greens have been insisting for ages”.

Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “Until this happens Prime Minister Muscat must put his actions where his mouth is. In 2012 the EU gave Malta 18 million euros for migration related issues. This money was used to buy boats, aircraft and other equipment for the Maltese military. Will Malta continue to accept this money from the EU? And then: why is the Prime Minister threatening to use his veto on unrelated matters, when he actually told EASO officials that on migration issues ‘we will not refuse our support on EU measures, but we will abstain on them’? Is Muscat abstaining on migration issues, rather than voting against, not to diplease his 10 Prime Minister colleagues from the Party of European Socialists?”

Note: The ten Socialist colleagues of Prime Minister Muscat who are heading their countries’ government are Hollande in France, Letta in Italy, Di Rupo in Belgium, Butkevicius in Lithuania, Fico in Czech Republic, Thorning-Schmidt in Denmark, Passos Coelho in Portugal, Ponta in Romania, Faymann in Austria and Pahor in Slovenia.

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PR 09-07-2013
Veto: X’logħba qiegħed jilgħab il-Prim Ministru?

Rigward l-immigrazzjoni irregolari, Robert Callus, il-kelliem ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika għall-politika socjali, qal: “L-unika soluzzjoni għall-problema hija politika. Fuq naħa minnhom, irridu nipperswadu lil-Libja biex tiffirma u tirratifika il-konvenzjoni ta’ Ġinevra dwar il-protezzjoni tar-refuġjati; min-naħa l-ohra irridu nikkonvinċu lill-pajjiżi tal-UE biex juru s-solidarjeta tagħhom fil-prattika, biex jaqblu mal-qsim tar-responsabbilita u biex jirrevedu l-konvenzjoni ta’ Dublin kif il-Ħodor Ewropej ilhom jinsistu għal ħafna zmien”.

Iċ-Chariperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Sakemm dan iseħħ, il-Prim Ministru Muscat irid jikkonvinċi bl-azzjonijiet tiegħu. Fl-2012, l-UE tat lil Malta 18 miljun ewro marbuta mal-immigrazzjoni. Dawn il-flus intuzaw biex jinxtraw dgħajjes, inġenji tal-ajru u atrezzament ieħor għall-armata Maltija. Malta ser tibqa’ taċċetta dawn il-flus mill-UE? Apparti minn hekk: Għalfejn qiegħed jhedded li ser juża l-veto fuq affarijiet li m’għandhomx x’jaqsmu ma’ immigrazzjoni, meta fil-verita qal lil uffiċjali tal-EASO li dwar l-immigrazzjoni: ‘m’aħniex ser nirrifjutaw li nagħtu l-appoġġ tagħna dwar miżuri tal-UE, imma nastjenu’? Forsi Muscat qiegħed jastjeni fuq kwistjonijiet ta’ migrazzjoni, minflok jivvota kontra, biex ma jurtax lill-10 Prim Ministi kollegi tiegħu mill-Partit tas-Soċjalisti Ewropej?”

Nota: L-għaxar kollegi Soċjalisti tal-Prim Ministru Muscat li qegħdin imexxu l-gvern ta’ pajjiżhom huma Hollande fi Franza, Letta fl-Italja, Di Rupo fil-Belġju, Butkevicius fil-Litwanja, Fico fir-Repubblika Ċeka, Thorning-Schmidt fid-Danimarka, Passos Coelho fil-Portugall, Ponta fir-Rumanija, Faymann fl-Awstrija u Pahor fis-Slovenja.