Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1071614
OPINION 8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 JANUARY 2019 THE journey to Europe is be- coming more and more peril- ous. The hope for a better life and a brighter future, is often- times, the main reason that makes people undertake the hazardous boat journey across the Mediterranean sea. With hopes to embark in the Euro- pean territories, people leave behind their homes and fami- lies in search for a better life, new possibilities and a better tomorrow. People search for signs of hope to create a better life, al- though their fate and destiny remain continually uncertain, every time they embark on a boat to cross the Mediterra- nean Sea. While the migrant arrivals by sea have decreased dra- matically over the past few years in Europe, every year thousands still attempt the boat journey across the Medi- terranean Sea. Just over the past few days, we were faced with the unfor- tunate situation whereby 49 migrants, five kids amongst them, were left on two boats close to the Maltese territo- rial waters for several days since neither the Maltese nor the Italian authorities gave the green light for the people to disembark from the vessels. Pope Francis has appealed for solidarity with stranded migrants. The Maltese Arch- bishop Charles J. Scicluna reit- erated his appeal during a visit he paid on one of the boats. Even the President of Malta has raised concerns on the fact that the issue dragged on for too long. One cannot not comment on the fact that thousands of Mal- tese people and the numerous non-governmental organi- sations based in Malta have joined forces to call on the Maltese government to grant port access to the rescue ves- sels. Concerns about the migrants trapped in rescue vessels have also been raised on various so- cial media channels. The uncertain fate of the two ships off Maltese shores has encouraged many Maltese citizens to express their con- cerns and feelings of empathy towards the people that are in every moment getting closer to an unstable situation. As Maltese and European we should not forget our values of solidarity and being able to offer a genuine humanitarian approach to those in need. As people and as a Union of states, we should act with solidarity, respect for human rights and human dignity. At this point, the question we must ask is simple: What can we do better next time? I believe it is time to walk the talk right at European Union level. The level of response and humanitarian solidarity should be improved at European level. We should create better mech- anisms that will help us deal with similar situations in the future and not act on a case by case basis. The duty to save lives is first of all a moral duty that each individual, our countries, and the European Union as a whole should guarantee, protect and further encompass. I join oth- ers to call on the European Union to manifest solidarity in the best possible way. In the end, it is due to our common belief in our fundamental val- ues of respect for human dig- nity and human rights that we are united. Let us keep believing in the values that unite us rather than divide us. Protecting the fundamental values of the Eu- ropean Union should be our mission, and how we really respond in a crisis should be- come our strength. Yesterday I addressed the European Parliament during a debate on the Reform of the EU asylum and migration pol- icy in the light of the contin- ued humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean and Africa. I emphasised the need that all Member States show true soli- darity, to return people who have no right to stay in Europe to make us in a better position to help those who really need our support, to study better le- gal pathways for migration so as to tackle human trafficking and to put into place an effi- cient EU border including in our coasts and seas to ensure security of EU citizens and to provide the necessary resourc- es to assist all those involved in such a challenging task. This is how I see the ongoing situations in the Mediterrane- an Sea being tackled. Francis Zammit Dimech Francis Zammit Dimech is a serving Member of the European Parliament for the Nationalist Party Solidarity – a value that defines us I believe it is time to walk the talk right at European Union level. The level of response and humanitarian solidarity should be improved at European level For days, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat insisted Malta could not afford to set a precedent by taking in the migrants on board two NGO ships off the country's coast