Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told the European Parliament that waiting for a unified government to form in Libya before decisive action is taken will contribute to further instabilities and deaths. Dr. Sant said that immigration in the Mediterranean is no longer just a humanitarian emergency. It is also a security crisis which has to be dealt with immediately, in the interests of all Europeans and all migrants.’

Dr. Sant was speaking during a debate on an EP Report of the extraordinary European Council of 23 April on the latest tragedies in the Mediterranean, EU migration and asylum policies. Dr. Sant said that recent events in the Mediterranean constitute a big discontinuity in past scenarios. He said that in the south of Malta in ten days, there were more deaths by drowning than when the ‘Titanic’ sank. He said that humanitarian action, vital though it is, can no longer be enough. Police exercises — sporadic or programmed — will not be enough to deal with the latest situations.

Dr. Sant said that blockading action outside the coasts of North Africa is the best way by which to save lives of hundreds of immigrants who are being exploited by human smugglers. ‘We all know what needs to be done.’ Dr. Sant said. ‘People trafficking operations in the Mediterranean have reached industrial proportions. Eventually they will be penetrated — perhaps already are — by extremist elements. The situation in Libya, which has the longest stretch of coastline, is out of control. emphasised the Maltese MEP.

Dr. Sant also referrred to the ‘hesitant seps’ taken by the extraordinary European Council in this direction which include a search and rescue operation that is properly funded and widespread to cover the North African coast; Amendments to the Dublin II treaty that respect the interests of all European states, big and small; Action against people traffickers; A policy for regular migration to Europe covering asylum seekers and economic migrants; A comprehensive development aid programme for sub-Saharan Africa.

You can follow Dr. Sant’s intervention on video below:

Maltese Version

‘L-IMMIGRAZZJONI SARET KRIŻI GĦAS-SIGURTA’

Alfred Sant qal lill-Parlament Ewropew li jekk se nibqgħu nistennew li jkun hemm gvern ta’ għaqda fil-Libja u ma tittiħidx azzjoni deċisiva, se tkompli tiżdied in-nuqqas ta’ stabbilita’ u jkomplu jiżdiedu l-imwiet fil-Mediterran. Dr. Sant qal li l-immigrazzjoni fil-Mediterran m’għadhiex biss emerġenza umanitarja. Saret kriżi għas-sigurta’ li trid tkun solvuta immedjatament fl-interess tal-Ewropej kollha u tal-immigranti infushom.

Dr. Sant kien qed jitkellem waqt dibattitu fuq Rapport dwar il-Kunsill Straordinarju tat-23 ta’ April fuq l-aktar traġedji riċenti fil-Mediterran. Huwa qal li l-ġrajjiet riċenti fil-Mediterranean
huma differenti minn dak li kien jiġri sa ftit ilu. ‘Fin-nofsinhar ta’ Malta f’għaxart ijiem, kien hemm aktar imwiet ta’ nies imgħarrqa milli kien hemm meta għereq it-‘Titanic’. L-azzjoni umanitarja, għalkemm vitali, mhix biżżejjed. L-azzjoni mill-Pulizija – sporadika jew programmata – mhux se tkun biżżejjed biex tlaħħaq mal-aħħar żviluppi fil-Mediterran.

Dr. Sant qal li azzjoni ta’ imblokk mal-kosta tal-Afrika ta’ Fuq hija l-aqwa mod kif jiġu salvati mijiet ta’ ħajjiet ta’ immigranti li qed jiġu espljotati mill-kuntrabandisti tal-bnedmin. ‘Ilkoll nafu x’jeħtieġ isir’. Qal Dr. Sant. ‘L-operazzjonijiet ta’ traffikar ta’ bnedmin fil-Mediterran issa laħqu livell industrijali. Eventwalment se jkunu ippenetrati – jekk mhux diġa’ qegħdin – minn elementi estremisti. Is-sitwazzjoni fil-Libja, li għandha l-itwal kosta, hija mingħajr kontroll’, enfasizza Dr. Sant.

Dr. Sant għamel riferenza għall-‘passi bejn ħaltejn’ li ha l-Kunsill Ewropew f’direzzjoni li jinkludu operazzjoni ta’ tiftix tul il-Kosta nordafrikana; Emendi ghat-Trattat ta’ Dublin II li jirrispetta l-istati Ewropej, kbar u żgħar; Azzjoni kontra t-traffikanti tal-bnedmin; politika għal immigrazzjoni regolari lejn l-Ewropa għal dawk li jfittxu ażilu; programm ta’żvilupp għall-Afrika tas-Sub Saħara.

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