We urgently need a european policy on legal migration

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said that Europe urgently needs a policy on legal migration. Dr. Sant said that one hopes that European political actors will place solidarity on their political agenda and embrace a fairer allocation system. ‘We urgently need a European policy on legal migration. For while the inflows of irregular migrants cause concern, some member states actually need migrants to replenish their labour force. It’s a truism that problems caused by irregular mass migration can only be solved conclusively by improvements that give grounds for hope, in the countries from where migrants originate.’ Dr. Sant told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

‘Europe is finally proposing to deal with resettlement issues for irregular migrants; with adequate search-and-rescue arrangements; and with the containment of smuggler gangs. One hopes that European political actors will place solidarity on their political agenda and embrace a fairer allocation system. Other priorities need to be kept in mind. Some migrants are asylum seekers. A resolution of the problem that caused them to leave home frequently requires military action by the international community that most often is outside the EU’s remit.’ Said Dr. Sant.
The Maltese MEP said that irregular migrants are also people who aspire to improve their economic situation as they have limited to zero opportunities back home. Past development aid failed to improve sufficiently the economic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. We need to understand why this has happened and to convert that understanding into an action programme committed to generate economic growth and jobs.

Maltese Version

‘L-EWROPA TEĦTIEĠ POLITIKA FUQ L-IMMIGRAZZJONI LEGALI’

L-Ewroparlamentari Malti Alfred Sant qal li l-Ewropa għandha bżonn urġenti ta’ politika fuq l-immigrazzjoni lokali. Dr. Sant qal li wieħed jittama li l-pajjiżi Ewropej idaħħlu s-soldarjeta’ fl-aġenda politika tagħhom u jilqgħu sistema aktar ġusta ta’ tqassim ġust ta’ immigranti irregolari f’pajjiżhom. ‘Għandna bżonn urġenti ta’ politika Ewropea fuq l-immigrazzjoni. Waqt li l-influss ta’ immigranti irregolari huwa ta’ inkwiet għal ħafna, uħud mill-pajjiżi tal-UE għandhom bżonn immigranti biex jaħdmu f’pajjiżhom. Hija verita’ li l-problemi maħluqa minn immigrazzjoni irregolari tal-massa jistgħu jiġu biss solvuti b’titjib li jagħti tama ġdida fil-pajjiżi mnejn qed jaħarbu l-istess immigranti.’ Qal Dr. Sant waqt li indirizza lill-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasbourg.
Dr. Sant qal li fl-aħħar l-Ewropa qed tipproponi li tikkontrolla t-traffikar tal-bnedmin. ‘Nittama li l-pajjiżi tal-UE jpoġġu s-solidarjeta’ fuq l-aġenda politika tagħhom u jaċċettaw sistema aktar ġusta ta’ riallokazzjoni ta’ immigranti irregolari.’

Dr. Sant qal li wieħed irid iżomm prijoritajiet oħra f’moħħu. ‘Uħud mill-immigranti qed ifittxu ażil. Soluzzjoni għall-problema li ġegħlithom jitilqu minn pajjiżhom ħafna drabi tfisser azzjoni militari mill-kommunita’ internazzjonali li ħafna drabi mhix possibli ssir mill-UE. L-immigranti irregolari jippruvaw itejbu ħajjithom għax f’pajjiżhom ma jeżistu l-ebda opportunitajiet. Fil-passat falliet l-għajnuna għall-iżvilupp biex ittejjeb il-kundizzjonijiet ekonomiċi fl-Afrika. Irridu nifhmu għala ġara dan u mbagħad nagħmlu programm li jiġġenera l-iżvilupp u l-impjiegi’. temm jgħid Dr. Sant.