Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/776046
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 JANUARY 2017 4 News CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 This would effectively see the EU push its external borders south- wards. The same sources told MaltaToday that if an agreement is reached, people could be trans- ported from Libya to Egypt and Algeria, where they would then be screened to see whether they would be eligible for asylum. It is not yet clear how the screen- ing would take place, and while government sources said that all operations "must be in accord- ance with international rules", the way asylum seekers would be se- lected is something which will be discussed "once details start being ironed out and discussed." Over the years, Malta's policy on migrants at sea has among others included an attempted pushback of asylum seekers to Libya, which came under fire from human rights organisations over the fact that such actions are illegal under international law. By Malta's own admission, Libya is not a safe country, as Maltese citizens are advised not to travel to the troubled North African coun- try and hundreds of Libyan nation- als have been granted protection in Malta. Given the dire situation in Libya, neighbouring countries including Algeria and Egypt have become a promising alternative for asylum seekers. Both countries were identified among the 16 "priority" countries with which the European Com- mission wants to reach deals. In return for various "incen- tives", such as development aid and trade, the EU wants coopera- tion in preventing migrants reach- ing Europe's shores and in accept- ing back deportees. Countries that refuse to cooperate risk what the commission calls "negative incen- tives." Libya deal 'complicated' Muscat has acknowledged that striking a deal with Libya – a country ruled by three rival gov- ernments and numerous militias – would be "extremely complicated". Libya's lawless state, following the toppling of former leader Mua- mmar Gaddafi in 2011, has left criminal gangs of migrant smug- glers free to send a stream of boats carrying desperate migrants from Africa and the Middle East. However, Muscat has said that "controversial" solutions need to be pursued and that "the only way to alleviate the situation is with the involvement of countries on the southern coast of the Mediterra- nean, including with humanitarian corridors." Human rights organisations have long called for humanitarian cor- ridors to ensure the safety of the migrants but the EU has so far focussed on stopping boats from leaving Libya. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 3,156 asylum seekers entered Eu- rope by sea in 2017. Over three quarters arrived in Italy and the rest in Greece. This 'Extremely complicated deal' to stem migration flow ECONOMICS OFFICER Applications are invited for the posts of Economics Officer in the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto. Applications together with a detailed CV will be received at the Corporate Services Directorate, Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto, Tal-Pilar, 31B, Marsamxett Road, Valletta, VLT 1850 or submitted through the Online Government Recruitment Portal on http://recruitment.gov.mt by not later than noon of Friday 3 rd February 2017. Further details may be obtained from the Government Gazette of 20 th January 2017. Application forms may be downloaded from: https://opm.gov.mt/en/PAHRO/RESOURCING/Pages/Forms%20and%20Templates/Forms-and- Templates.aspx Some of the positions being advertised through this call for applications may be considered for co-financing by European Union Funds NEIL Falzon, a human rights lawyer and director of the Aditus Foundation – an NGO dedicated to ensuring human rights access in Malta – said, "I would strongly remind Malta and other EU Member States that it is illegal to force refugees to remain in a coun- try where their lives or security would be at risk." "For some years, Malta has officially recognised that Libya is unable to protect its own na- tionals from the civil conflict plaguing the nation," he said, adding that Malta has been granting international protec- tion to the vast majority of Libyan nationals seeking pro- tection here. "The foundation finds it il- logical to, on the one hand, say that Libya is not safe for its own nationals and, on the other hand, try to convince us that it is safe for refugees from other countries," he continued. In addition to this, Falzon said that by hosting 6% of the world's refugees, Europe was definitely not facing a refugee crisis. "It's high time the 28 EU governments stopped fuelling panic as this is counterpro- ductive, endangers national security and results in human rights violations we see at the EU's borders, and just beyond," he said, adding that Malta should focus on promoting EU solidarity as the "key basis for Europe's future in this regard." 'It is illegal to force refugees to remain in an unsafe country' Neil Falzon MOAS rescued an estimated 16,000 people between June and September 2016