Labour MEP calls for concrete action on irregular migration

In a fresh call to the European Commission, Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi has called on the EU to provide concrete measures to alleviate the influx of immmigrants in Malta.

Mizzi had previously criticised the EU for its "lack of support" and had called on the EU to solve the problem of immigration. The Labour MEP also called on the EU to introduce a system of burden sharing on a European front.

"Over the course of the past year, we heard a lot of talk from the European Commission about the need to provide concrete help to countries who are suffering from a bigger burden brought about by the influx of migrants," Mizzi said. 

"It is unacceptable for the European Commission to keep on talking without providing any concrete action, more so because it had promised to addressed this issue," she argued.

In October, during the European Council in October, the EU Communication took on board an number of actions proposed by Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and also established the Task Force Mediterranean (TFM) - a concerted body aimed at addressing the influx of migrants from Africa into Europe.

In her questions to the Commission, the Labour MEP inquired about the state  of play of the recommendations of the Task Force and if there has been any progress regarding burden sharing.

Among its proposals, the Task Force Meditteranean, which was established in the wake of humanitarian tragedies in the Mediterranean, is tasked with the repatriation of failed asylum seekers, the outsourcing" the processing of their claims in transit countries as well as more incentives for countries of origin to readmit asylum seekrs.

"Now that we are getting closer to summer, the number of asylum seekers trying to reach Maltese shores will undoubtedly increase."

It is therefore fundamental to make sure that the EU is adequately prepared in order to prevent humanitarian tragedies from happening," Mizzi insisted.