In view of the impending tragedy in nearby Libya, Alternattiva Demokratika and the European Greens said they are insisting with the EU on the concept of “responsibility sharing.”
Prof. Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, said, “Until now a good number of EU member states have refused to accept the EU parlliament and EU Commission proposal on “responsibility sharing”. This egoistic attitude, which goes against the solidarity concept, cannot go on any more.”
Prof. Cassola continued, “In view of the possibility of thousands of migrants fleeing from the brutal Gaddafi regime, the Maltese government, together with other like minded governments, should insist for an immediately implementable plan, whereby the 27 EU member states give hospitality and share equally and in a just way amongst themselves, those people fleeing from the country and seeking refugee status in Malta or Lampedusa.”
Prof. Cassola concluded, “Gaddafi’s terror regime has been armed with British, French and other European weapons. It is about time that EU countries contribute to handling the humanitarian emergencies that they themselves have contributed to creating.”
AD Chairperson, Michael Briguglio said he joins Green Group in the European Parliament President, Dany Cohn Bendit, in insisting that the European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström – as in the case of Bosnia – coordinates the assistance and the reception of refugees in danger and invokes the temporary protection clause.