AD revives call for Dublin regulations revision

Alternattiva Demokratika has called on the Prime Ministers of Malta, Italy and Greece to change the Dublin regulations.

AD was reacting to a meeting between Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Italian Premier Matteo Renzi yesterday evening. Rezni told Muscat that issues pertaining to migration and Mediterranean policy would be at the forefront of Italy's priorities.

Muscat said that Italy, alongside Malta and Greece, should remain united in their pressure on illegal immigration.

"The pressure on migration should be placed on top of the EU's agenda," Muscat said. "Italy's and Greece's presidency of the European Union serves as the right platform for the issue of illegal migration to be highlighted on a European front."

AD chairman Arnold Cassola, said: "Prime Ministers Renzi, Muscat and Samaras, please cut it out with your empty promises. You have been harping for years on the need of solidarity and you got nothing; you have threatened to resort to the pushback of migrants and you got nothing.

"In reality, you have been unable to persuade your fellow socialist and Christian Democatic Prime Ministers to show their solidarity.  They have given you the cold shoulder. So please, stop taking for a ride the Maltese people with your empty words on burden sharing.

"We Greens have persuaded all our European Green colleagues that the Dublin rules must be totally overhauled in order to allow migrants to move on to Europe from Malta. It is now your duty to get a concrete pledge from all your European Socialist and Christian Democaratic colleagues to do likewise. Until then, please, stop uttering the usual platitudes that you have been repeating for years on end."