Malta saw a surge of migrant arrivals at the start of this year, with some 1,500 reaching the country by early March. The government says its reception centres are full and has complained that EU allies have not always followed though on pledges to take in the migrants.
The island state of Malta has prevented a private ship conveying 57 rescued migrant from docking and keeping them anchored outside territorial waters until European Union makes it decision about housing them.
Prime Minister, Robert Albela, stated the the 57 rescued migrants were captured inside Malta’s search and rescue zone by a chartered commercial commercial fishing vessel to intercept possible asylum seekers.
“The group were subsequently transferred to a launch normally used for tourist harbour cruises, with the EU agreeing to meet the cost of the operation until a decision had been made on where the men should go,” Robert said.
“This is not Malta’s problem, although we are doing more than is expected of us. Other EU member states must shoulder the burden too. Malta and Italy cannot be left alone,” he stated.
He continued that “We closed our ports and airport to cruise passengers and tourists and it does not make sense to then let migrants in,” he said, referring to restrictions introduced in March to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
“Hundreds of thousands of people were in Libya, waiting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy or Malta.
“We will be firm in our commitment not to open our ports,” he said, adding that he was “not satisfied” with the EU response over how to handle the latest newcomers,” he noted.
Malta saw a surge of migrant arrivals at the start of this year, with some 1,500 reaching the country by early March. The government says its reception centres are full and has complained that EU allies have not always followed though on pledges to take in the migrants.
When the coronavirus hit in March, Malta employed private boats to intercept would-be migrants before they reached the island.
The NGO group Alarm Phone says that on one occasion a migrant boat was left adrift for days before a contracted fishing vessel finally drew alongside, with 12 people drowning or starving to death as they awaited help.
The United Nations says Libya is not a safe port because of the long-running conflict there and has previously said that forcing boat migrants to return to the country would breach international law.
Abela however stated that his government is not wrong with its decision as the proioruty is to protect national interest while balancing it with the country’s obligations.
“It is our duty to protect the national interest and balance that with our obligations,” he concluded.
