Commenting on the outcome of the council meeting of EU home affairs ministers and ahead of European Parliament today on the tragedy in Lampedusa, Green migration and asylum policy spokesperson Jean Lambert (UK Euro-MP) said, “The EU cannot continue to allow tragic loss of human life in its coastal waters. New EU rules on the surveillance of sea borders are currently under discussion in the European Parliament and Council but EU governments are again pushing for limited provisions for assistance in the case of emergencies.

“This is not acceptable and must be immediately redressed. There is also a need to finally make a common asylum system a reality and provide for a more humane treatment of those coming to Europe seeking refuge and asylum, and ensure that EU member states share responsibility for this.”

Prof. Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, said, “We Maltese greens have convinced our European Green family that the Dublin II Convention has to be reformed and the responsibility of saving and hosting migrants has to be shared by all EU governments. It is now time for Prime Minister Muscat to persuade his 10 Socialist Prime Ministers and for Dr Busuttill to persuade his 12 PPE Prime Ministers to follow in the footsteps of us Greens.”

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