Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1248303
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 MAY 2020 NEWS MATTHEW AGIUS REPRESENTATIVES of three NGOs have written a joint letter to EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johannson, urging the EU to intervene with the Maltese authorities and find a swift solution to the ongoing de- tention of 167 rescued migrants who are being held offshore on Captain Morgan boats. The migrants are being held aboard the private vessels Eu- ropa II and the Atlantis, just outside Malta's territorial wa- ters. Katrine Camilleri on behalf of JRS, Maria Pisani for the Integra Foundation and Neil Falzon for the aditus foundation, penned the joint letter, explaining the plight of the migrants who were being accommodated aboard the pleasure craft ever since they were rescued in Malta's SAR zone between 28 April and 6 May. The migrants were transferred from the private and Armed Forces of Malta vessels involved in the rescue to the chartered vessels, and have remained there since the beginning of May, say the organisations. The NGOs expressed "serious and urgent concern at the treat- ment of these men," pointing out that many have been out at sea for over two weeks, besides the time spent at sea before their rescue. Living conditions aboard the vessels must be extremely chal- lenging, say the NGOs, as these are boats generally used for par- ties or for tours of Malta's coast. "The vessels usually sail under a Commercial Vessel Certificate, which allows them to sail within three nautical miles from land and not more than three nauti- cal miles from a place of refuge, in favourable weather condi- tions. They are not equipped to host people for long periods of time. We have no information as to whether any assessments have been conducted to identi- fy vulnerable persons or unac- companied minors, although we are aware that 18 women and children were brought ashore to Malta," reads the letter. Those on board have no access to lawyers, supporting organisa- tions, interpreters or UNHCR, point out the letter's signatories, say the organisations. "From what we can understand, they have not been provided infor- mation as to their legal situation and related rights. In particular, we sincerely doubt that the right or possibility to seek asylum has been explained to them, as it is clear that Malta's intentions are for them not to reach Maltese territory," they said. The NGOs underlined the iro- ny of Malta's request for fund- ing from the European Union to cover the costs of the vessels out at sea. "On the one hand – Malta is treating the persons on board the vessels as if they were wholly outside the protection afforded by national, European and international law whilst si- multaneously seeking assistance from European Union to keep this situation afloat," they said. "It is clear that Malta's actions sufficiently affect the interests of the European Union and are being carried out in pursuance of EU external border control," added the NGOs, emphasising that the notion of fundamental rights does not end at the EU's external borders. Whilst appreciating the chal- lenges faced by Malta in coping with the arrival by sea of asylum seekers, the NGOs nonetheless stressed that Malta's difficulties did not justify disregard for its human rights obligations. NGOs request EU intervention on Captain Morgan migrants The Europa II, one of the boats holding the migrants