Who is against compulsory saving of lives at sea?

Robert Callus, AD spokesperson on Social Affairs, said: “Next Thursday the Civil liberties committee in the European Parliament will vote the Coehlo report regarding new EU legislation on the surveillance of external sea borders. The legislation has come under focus since the latest tragic losses of life in the Mediterranean and the perceived failure to tackle this recurring problem. The Greens have consistently pushed for a comprehensive EU border policy, which would ensure that all EU governments finally take their responsibility to prevent these avoidable tragedies off Europe’s coast and to ensure mutual support in doing so. To this end, this legislation must include concrete obligations on saving lives at sea.”

Prof. Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, said: “Some EPP MEPs, including Roberta Metsola, want to change the text regarding saving lives at sea. In fact, Dr Metsola has tabled amendments on saving lives which basically delete all specifc rules on saving migrants at sea and replace them by a general reference to international law. One of the core aims of the regulation is to put an end to the different interpretations of EU member states on their international obligation on saving lives at sea. If the specific provisions are removed, the regulation is useless. Why is Roberta Metsola not supporting the common position of the EP which includes detailed rules on saving lives at sea?”

Robert Callus, kelliem ta’ AD għall-politika soċjali, qal: “Il-Ħamis li ġej il-Kumitat tal-Libertajiet Ċivili fi ħdan il-Parlament Ewropew ser jivvota fuq ir-rapport Coehlo dwar leġiżlazzjoni ġdida tal-UE fuq is-sorveljanza tal-fruntieri esterni tal-ibħra. Il-leġiżlazzjoni ġiet taħt il-lenti minn mindu ħafna tilfu ħajjithom traġikament fil-Mediterran. Fil-fehma ta’ ħafna, għadna ma rnexxilniex nindirizzaw din il-problema kontinwa. Il-Greens ilhom jissuġġerixxu li tinħtieġ politika serja dwar il-fruntieri tal-UE, li tiżgura li l-gvernijiet kollha tal-UE fl-aħħar jieħdu r-responsabbilta` biex jevitaw aktar traġedji li jistgħu jiġu evitati barra xtut l-Ewropa u biex tara li jkun hemm appoġġ min-naħat kollha biex dan isir.  Għaldaqstant, din il-liġi jeħtieġ li tinkludi obligazzjonijiet konkreti dwar is-salvataġġ ta’ bnedmin mill-għarqa.”

Prof. Arnold Cassola, iċ-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, qal: “Sfortunatament, xi wħud mill-MEPs tal-PPE, inkluż Roberta Metsola,  iridu jbiddlu partijiet mil-liġi rigward is-salvataġġ tan-nies mill-għarqa. Fil-fatt, Dr Metsola ressqet emendi dwar is-salvataġġ mill-għarqa li bażikament iħassru ir-regoli specifici kollha dwar is-salvataġġ tal-ħajja tal-immigranti mill-baħar u minflokhom trid li ssir referenza ġenerali għal-liġi internazzjonali. Wieħed mill-għanijiet prinċipali tal-liġi huwa li titneħħa darba għal dejjem id-diverġenza fl-interpretazzjoni tal-liġi minn stati membri tal-UE dwar l-obligazzjonijiet internazzjonali tagħhom biex isalvaw lin-nies mill-għarqa.  Jekk il-proviżjonijiet speċifiċi jitneħħew, il-liġi titlef l-iskop tagħha. Għalfejn Roberta Metsola mhux qed tappoġġa l-pożizzjoni komuni tal-Parlament Ewropew li tinkludi regoli dettaljati dwar is-salvataġġ mill-għarqa?”

FacebookEmail