Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1066826
7 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 DECEMBER 2018 leaders in June after tense and lengthy talks were vague, keeping the commit- ment to share migrants a voluntary one. The question is whether ad-hoc solutions which see a limited num- ber of European nations agreeing to share responsibility is further delay- ing a long-term European solution or whether this is the only sensible op- tion left to confront the humanitarian emergency. Facing a backlash? It remains unclear whether Muscat is at risk of a backlash from his own electorate on this issue. Surely so far the number of asylum seekers brought in to Malta remains lower than before 2013. Moreover asylum seekers repre- sent a small fraction of Malta's grow- ing foreign labour force, which is vital for current rates of economic growth. It may well be the case that as long as the economy goes strong, people are less likely to vent their anger on mi- gration. Over the past months, Muscat defied the populist label often attributed to him, insisting that he has no problem showing solidarity with other coun- tries, adding that he "will shoulder the decision taken. This is what I am Prime Minister for, to take decisions". While upon being elected in 2013 he was very close to the approach of Italian PM Guiseppe Conte, threaten- ing pushbacks and vetoes to make Eu- rope "wake up and smell the coffee", Muscat now calls for 'persuasion'. In response to Conte's threat to withhold EU funds over European inertia on mi- gration, Muscat warned is that "it isn't words, or the size of a country that brings about solutions, nor is it simply tweeting and raising your voice. Solu- tions are found through persuasion." Yet on one particular aspect, Muscat has taken a hard-line approach: his de- cision to block the operations of NGO rescue ships which are accused of act- ing as pull factors for migrants, but are also actively saving lives in the absence of EU action. The Lifeline captain is still facing court proceedings in Malta. Muscat may have used the stand-off with NGOs to balance his humanitar- ian approach with the concerns of his own electorate. Moreover this is a po- sition which finds both far-right gov- ernments and mainstream EU govern- ments in agreement. The June summit of EU leaders had called on all rescue organisations to cooperate with the Libyan coastguard, in a move seen as targeting the NGO vessels. The limits of cosmopolitanism But while Muscat has been present- ing himself as the Prime Minister of a forward-looking cosmopolitan Malta – especially to contrast criticism by the Opposition on the growing num- ber of foreign workers in Malta – he has been cautious on integration poli- cies, throwing cold water on a propos- al by Equality Minister Helena Dalli to grant long term residents the vote in elections. This suggests that Mus- cat's approach to cosmopolitanism is fuelled by economic considerations more than by a firm commitment for inclusion. The eviction of 120 migrants in Au- gust from cowsheds in Qormi, which "reeked of death" according to an en- forcement officer present on site, was a reminder of the ugly realities of ex- ploitation lurking behind the Maltese economic miracle. One bold step taken by the govern- ment was to start issuing residence permits to long-term immigrants who are not eligible for international pro- tection but cannot be returned to their country of origin. This signals a move towards greater inclusion. This contrasted with the arrest of 33 failed asylum seekers from Mali in 2016, nine of whom spent three months in detention before being re- leased. Yet with local and MEP elec- tions due next year any further pro- gress on integration policies is unlikely at least during the first half of 2019. This is because politicians in both camps are also likely to play the strongman card on migration. Bear- ing on these elections is also the threat posed by local far-right outfits whose inroads may further condition politi- cal debate in the country. Moreover the growing unpopularity of the embattled Macron Presidency in France with which Muscat has in- creasingly identified in 2018 now risks undermining Muscat's own ambitions for a top EU post. And this may even have a bearing on whether he would stay on as PM after these elections. Bearing on these elections is also the threat posed by local far-right outfits whose inroads may further condition political debate in the country. PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES BIANCHI