The concept of a new Frontex that would have the power to override national competences is not acceptable. This statement was made by the Head of the Maltese S&D Delegation while the European Parliament was discussing the “Preparation of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 December 2015 Council and Commission statements” in Strasbourg. The European Council is expected to discuss the fight against terrorism and migration among other matters.

Dr. Sant said it is obvious that the European Union needs a functioning migration and asylum policy to underpin the Schengen system. ‘We obviously do not have it. The proposal to create a new, stronger Frontex is another proposal in firefighting mode. It aims to staunch the flow of migrants and refugees that has become uncontrollable in past months.’

Dr. Sant that the EU obviously needs stronger, more effective border controls. We also need first greater coherence in the formulation of migration policies. These cannot be simply packaged in beautiful statements about solidarity and European values, while lacking the tools to manage them. Nor can migration policies simply be declared unilaterally, provoking greater problems, and then expecting border states to assume full responsibility. The latter would then need to mobilise additional own financial resources, even as Dublin 2 remains in force.

Even less acceptable is the concept of a new Frontex that would have the power to override national competences, said Dr. Sant. Most states at the EU’s so-called external borders are small and have limited resources. What is being proposed, unless radically amended, amounts to a further reduction of their sovereignty without any transparent counterbalancing measures that would ensure the burdens of immigration are being contained and fairly distributed.

Maltese Version – ‘MHUX AĊĊETTABBLI LI L-FRONTEX JIPPREVALI FUQ IL-KOMPETENZI NAZZJONALI’

Mhux aċċettabbli li Frontex ġdid ikollu l-poter jipprevali fuq kompetenzi nazzjonali. Dan qalu Dr Alfred Sant fil-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu waqt id-diskussjoni dwar il-preparamenti tal-laqgħa tal-Kunsill tal-Ewropa tas-17 u t-18 ta’ Diċembru 2015 li mistenni jiddiskuti, fost l-oħrajn il-ġlieda kontra t-terroriżmu u l-immigrazzjoni.
Dr Sant qal li l-Unjoni Ewropea għandha bżonn politika effettiva dwar l-immigrazzjoni u l-ażil li tappoġġja s-sistema Schengen. ‘Huwa ċar li għad ma għandniex politika bħal din. Il-proposta ta’ Frontex b’saħħtu hija proposta maħluqa fi żmien ta’ kriżi. Il-mira tagħha huwa li tikkontrolla l-influssi tal-immigranti u r-refuġjati li f’dawn l-aħħar xhur saru inkontrollabbli.’
Dr Sant qal li hija ovvja li l-Unjoni Ewropea għandha bżonn kontrolli aktar effettivi fuq il-fruntieri esterni tagħha. Imma l-ewwel ħaġa jeħtieġ li jkollna aktar għaqda fit-tfassil tal-politika tal-immigrazzjoni. Mhux biżżejjed li din il-politika tkun imżejna bi stqarrijiet sbieħ dwar is-solidarjeta` u l-valuri Ewropej, filwaqt li ma jkunx hemm l-għodda biex politika bħal din titwettaq. Il-politika tal-immigrazzjoni ma tistax tkun imħaddma minn pajjiż tal-UE u mhux minn pajjiż membru ieħor. Dan joħloq aktar problemi u jkun impossibbli li l-istati li jmissu mal-fruntieri esterni tal-UE jerfgħu r-responsabilita` kollha. Dawn tal-aħħar inkella ikollhom bżonn riżorsi finanzjarji addizzjonali, anki jekk it-tieni trattat ta’ Dublin ikun fis-seħħ.
Dr Sant qal li kunċett aktar inaċċettabbli minn dan huwa li Frontex ġdid ikollu l-poter jidħol fil-kompetenzi nazzjonali. Ħafna stati li qegħdin imissu mal-Fruntieri esterni tal-Unjoni Ewropea huma żgħar u għandhom riżorsi limitati. Dak li qed ikun propost, sakemm ma jinbidilx ħafna, jfisser li s-sovranita’ ta’ dawn l-istati qed tinxtorob, la m’hemmx miżuri trasparenti oħra li jiżguraw li l-piżijiet tal-immigrazzjoni qed ikunu kkontrollati u maqsuma bejn il-pajjiżi kollha tal-UE b’mod xieraq.

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