The European Green Party (EGP) have called for the EU to stand in solidarity and develop a common strategy to manage the extreme pressure caused by the seasonal increase in the arrival of asylum seekers at Europe’s southern coast.

The calls come as European Council President Herman Van Rompuy held meetings with Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Libyan Deputy Prime Minister on the subject of migration in the Mediterranean.

According to EGP Co-Chair Monica Frassoni, “The issue of processing asylum seekers cannot be left to single countries, notably in the south of Europe.

“These people are fleeing violence and extreme hardship in Libya and other African states, coming through criminal channels at great risk to their life. The EU as a whole has an international responsibility to contribute to more humane and robust systems for the support of migrants and asylum seekers, and needs to ensure that they are treated fairly and with dignity. In particular Malta must live up to EU human rights standards in this area.

“Prime Minister Muscat’s proposal to send back sub-saharan refugees to Libya was completely wrong, and we welcome the decision not to put them on flights home. All of Europe must live up to our standards of democracy and civil rights. But Malta can’t be expected to stand alone. All of the EU must stand together.”

Frassoni’s comments echo those of Prof Arnold Cassola, chairperson of the Maltese Green party Alternattiva Demokratika. Speaking of Van Rompuy’s visit he said,

“It is an urgent and prime duty of Herman van Rompuy to persuade the European Council of Ministers to adopt the concept of solidarity in practice, responsibility sharing and to revise the Dublin convention.”

Permalink: Malta must not face migration alone – European Greens