In view of the 2,000 Eritreans, Somalis and Sudanese that have fled Tripoli by boat to Italy and Malta in the last four days, Alternattiva Demokratika Spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, Prof. Arnold Cassola, stated that, “it is clear that the Gaddafi regime is again resorting to its known blackmailing tactics by ‘invading’ the European continent, whenever the unreliable Colonel cannot have things his own way. The EU should prepare an immediately implementable proper contingency plan to distribute these refugee seekers amongst the different member states, while any post conflict agreement with Libya should ensure that the new Libyan leadership signs and ratifies the Geneva Convention,”

Robert Callus, AD spokesperson on migration and citizenship, stated that, “the Maltese, Italian and EU authorities should coordinate the reception of these irregular migrants -who are all potential refugees- with UNHCR to ensure a fair distribution amongst the 27 countries of the EU and to prevent the shoving of this responsibility only on the shoulders of Lampedusa and Malta who are being -and will be- hit disproportionately by this migratory phenomenon.”

Chairperson Michael Briguglio said that AD will be raising this issue in the European Green Party council meeting in Budapest in the coming days.

Permalink: Asylum Seekers, the EU must act immediately- AD