Greens: ‘EU border policies must focus on saving lives, burden sharing’

Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola called on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil to convince their fellow European members that the Dublin II convention must be reviewed.

"As Maltese Greenes, we have convinced our European Green family that the Dublin II Convention has to be reformed and the responsibility of saving and hosting migrants has to be shared by all EU governments," Cassola said.

"It is now time for Muscat to persuade his 10 Socialist Prime Ministers and for Busuttill to persuade his 12 PPE Prime Ministers to follow suit."

The European Greens have insisted that the EU could not continue to allow the tragic loss of human life in its coastal waters.

Commenting on the outcome of the EU council meeting on the tragedy in Lampedusa, Green migration and asylum policy spokesperson Jean Lambert said that the common asylum system must become a reality.

"New EU rules on the surveillance of sea borders are currently under discussion in the European Parliament and Council but EU governments are again pushing for limited provisions for assistance in the case of emergencies," Lambert said.

"This is not acceptable and must be immediately redressed. There is also a need to finally make a common asylum system a reality and provide for a more humane treatment of those coming to Europe seeking refuge and asylum, and ensure that EU member states share responsibility for this."