Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party, said that although it agrees that the pact is ‘not enough’, it disagrees with those political forces that are insisting that later on this month Malta should not sign the agreement reached on illegal migration and asylum as agreed upon by the 27 member countries of the EU.

Stephen Cachia, Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson on Democracy and Civil rights, stated: “We at Alternattiva Demokratika had urged the Maltese government to veto any text if it did not make a specific reference to responsibility sharing and to the restrictive effects of the Dublin regulations.”

“However, as a result of the agreement reached Malta has attained both the mention of responsibility sharing as well as the possibility to relocate immigrants with asylum status and special protection to other EU countries,” concluded Stephen Cachia.

Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, added: “This is therefore a first step in the right direction, even though it is not enough because it is on a voluntary basis on the part of the other EU states. AD considers that it should be on a permanent and compulsory basis.”

“Having said this, this is the first time that the principle of responsibility sharing and of relocation, albeit on a voluntary basis, is now part of the EU policy. It would be sheer folly for the Maltese government not to sign the agreed compromise text, which is certainly an improvement on the previous existing situation.”

“Malta must continue in its political work to develop this first result into a compulsory one,” concluded Prof. Cassola.