MEPs are calling on Joseph Muscat to allow NGO migrant vessels to leave port

MEPs of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee have called on the Prime Minister to lift restrictions on search and rescue ships and aircraft used by migrant rescue NGOs Lifeline and Seawatch.

The MEPs met yesterday evening with the crews of Mission Lifeline and Seawatch in Malta and have today presented a letter to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The delegation was composed of Martina Anderson, Péter Niedermüller and Jean Lambert. The MEPs said at a press conference this afternoon that they asked Muscat to intervene and allow the NGOs to carry out their lifesaving missions as hundreds keep drowning in the Mediterranean Sea.

"There are no illegalities taking place here," Anderson said. "These NGOs sought clearance from the Minister for Transport but clearance has not yet been given."

READ MORE: Malta still preventing SeaWatch and Mission Lifeline vessels from departing despite positive inspection

Since Mission Lifeline captain Claus Peter Reisch is undergoing a trial in relation to vessel licensing irregularities, Anderson said that she has concerns with regards to the "criminalisation of NGOs".  Despite positive inspection and the fact that no irregularities were found, both Lifeline and Seawatch vessels remain detained in port.

On 5 July the European Parliament voted on a resolution to prevent humanitarian assistance from being criminalised. "This is a humanitarian issue," Niedermüller said, "not a legal issue."

Anderson argued that since Seawatch were not even undergoing a legal trial, nothing should be stopping them from carrying out their rescue missions. "We have taken this matter very seriously," she said. "We will go back to the European Parliament and will make sure this issue is raised there. We are from three separate groups with our own personal views but we are in agreement on this."

Anderson went on to say that the three of them today were representing hundreds of MEPs who share the same humanitarian view on the issue.

Jean Lambert said that her concern was mostly about the fact that if NGOs are prevented from helping migrants in the Mediterranean, men, women and children will keep drowning at sea. "Are we saying that saving them is nobody's job? Are we to let them drown?"

Niedermüller said NGOs formed an important part of democratic European nations and insisted it was important to support them. He said that the three representatives were not against the politics of the Maltese government. "We are simply asking the Prime Minister to help."