Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1037099
11 ANALYSIS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 OCTOBER 2018 down on rescue operations by NGOs. "Nothing will absolve any Eu- ropean, in particular the Mal- tese and the Italians who are aware of the inhumane devel- opments, for not speaking out against the criminalisation of search and rescue NGOs", says Debono. In a situation where people are dying Debono is appalled by at- tempts to curtail the operations of those trying to save people. "Why such heavy-handed criminalisation by states against a few NGOs, manned by vol- unteers? What threats do they pose, and to whom? Who stands to gain from their criminali- sation? How can any govern- ment morally justify grounding a spotter plane which can save lives? What geopolitical, if not also commercial, games are be- ing played off the shores of Lib- ya?" asks Debono. While denouncing the far right for seeking simple solu- tions to complex problems, George Vella is not keen on the role assumed by NGOs fearing that they act as a "pull factor" for smugglers even if he dis- misses claims that NGOs are in cahoots with smugglers. "In the knowledge that some- one is out there to rescue the migrants just outside territo- rial waters, smugglers feel less responsible for the people they carry. They may even be in- creasing their fees because of this." He also expresses concern that the operations of private actors risk derailing a coordinated ac- tion between EU members. He also points out that the Libyan coast guard was trained by Italy and Malta. "I am aware of allegations that the Libyan coast guard had shot at migrants. But can we agree with NGOs when they disobey the Libyan coast guard when we spent money on training them?" he asks. Vella is also concerned by conditions in so-called holding camps in Libya where hundreds of migrants are kept in deten- tion amidst reports of sexual abuse and torture. Migration will not be stopped Vella is even more concerned by the growth of the far right which fails to realise that "the migration flow will remain and will not stop at least in our life- time." For although the flow has de- creased thanks to border out- posts in countries like Niger and most migrants actually remain in Africa, a large number of mi- grants remain stranded in Libya at the mercy of militias and smugglers. While recognising that Salvini is becoming more popular by stirring anti-migration senti- ments, he is sceptical of sim- plistic solutions proposed by right-wing leaders. Vella thinks it remains highly unlikely that any North African country will ever host "outposts" for migrants from Libya. "Neither can one make a barbed wired fence around Lib- ya as was once suggested to me by Sebastian Kurz when he was foreign Minister and I met him when he was visiting an EPP congress in Malta….this is the kind of language which I had to contend with…" What many fail to recognise, according to Vella, is that "the greatest pull factor for economic migrants is the discrepancy be- tween what they see on TV and the level of development in their country." Long-term solutions proposed by Vella include a marshall plan for Africa, the lifting of tariffs to encourage trade and "regulated circular migration" for young people from Africa through which these people are given op- portunities to work temporarily in Europe to return with better skills and thus avoid a brain drain. Moreover, we have to re- alise that everyone is neighbour to someone else. Vella, who in his first term as foreign minister between 1996 and 1998 was a pioneer of the Euro-Med dialogue, now envi- sions a wider process. In the ab- sence of this, other players like China are bound to step in to capitalise on the resource rich continent. "Nobody can say I don't care… Northern European nations are the neighbours of Mediterra- nean countries which, on their part, border on African coun- tries like Chad, Niger and Mali. The fate of Europe is tied with that of Africa." particularly within the Accounts and Payments Units of the Agency, besides other areas within Paying Agency's organisational structure. This position oers an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the responsibilities entailed. If this sounds the right opportunity for your career, we invite you to submit an application to the attention of the Director-General (Operations), Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change by the closing time and date of this call for applications, noon (Central European Time) of Friday 12 th October 2018 through the Online Government Recruitment Portal at https://recruitment.gov.mt. Further details may be obtained from the Government Gazette no. 20,062 of the 28 th September, 2018 or by emailing arpa.mesdc@gov.mt or calling on 2292 4309. The Agriculture and Rural Paying Agency within the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change (MESDC) is seeking to recruit a number of Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 Position may be co-funded by the European Union Technical Assistance The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development Co-financing rate: 75% European Union; 25% Government of Malta Europe Investing in Rural Areas PROJECT OFFICERS (PAYING AGENCY) SITUATIONS VACANT Agriculture and Rural Payments Agency Luqa Road, Qormi QRM 9075, Malta indifference has tragedy Teddy bears and flowers sit on coffins of dead migrants inside a hangar of Lampedusa's airport The Italian coastguard brings survivors to the harbour in Lampedusa