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Maltese Student Body Calls For Licensing Of Life-Saving Migration Missions

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NGOs seeking to save lives at sea using boats should be offered a “proper and efficient way of licensing”, according to Malta’s University Students’ Council (KSU).

Malta last month suddenly blocked its ports and air space to vessels and aircraft operated by migrant search-and-rescue NGOs, even preventing the ones currently berthed here from leaving the island. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat claimed this move was necessary pending an investigation into the NGO operations.

In reaction, KSU’s social policy arm has called for there to be a “quick, easy and safe way of registering as well as clear and strict rules are to be maintained on how to apply”.

“Innocent lives are being lost at sea,” KSU said, adding that the highest priority should be to protect human life.

KSU set out these recommendations on migration as a whole, after convening a meeting of its social policy commission:

  • A long-term open-door policy, with particular focus on irregular immigrants, would not work in Malta since the situation is already burdensome. However, Malta should provide humanitarian aid to immigrants, and process asylum applications based on the conditional support from other countries.
  • An EU-wide platform should be created on making burden-sharing mandatory for all Member States. Malta should not do all the burdensharing.
  • EASO should oversee the processing of asylum applications from every single country, hence, granting them temporary residence until they are processed.
  • A proper and efficient way of licensing should be granted to NGO boats. This should lead to a quick, easy and safe way of registering as well as clear and strict rules are to be maintained on how to apply.
  • There should be lobbying for more funding when it comes to Frontex.
  • The Maltese population should try their best in allowing immigrants to be happy in Malta and more well-integrated into society.
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Photo: SeaWatch

KSU also said that local detention centres be improved, with particular focus on having a mental health practitioner on call and also having interpreters on site.
KSU also committed to setting up a focus group on ‘The Inhumane Treatment Of Irregular Immigrants’ to come up with a proper strategy to save lives at sea and propose a policy paper that would be sent out to stakeholders.

“In this way, we would be showing the students’ viewpoint about the issue and how much it is of concern to us,” KSU said.

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Photo: The SeaWatch crew stranded in Malta

The statement was endorsed by the following student organisations: ALLT – Association of Linguistics and Language Technology, ASCS – Association of Students of Commercial Studies, Betapsi – Psychology Students’ Association, CSA – Criminology Students Association, DESA – Department of English Student Association, ELSA Malta – The European Law Students’ Association, ESA -Earth Systems Association, Erasmus Student Network – ESN, ESO – European Studies Organisation, IASTE – International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience, ICE – Institute of Civil Engineers Student Chapter, ICTSA – Information Communications Technology Students’ Association, Insite Malta, JEF Malta – Young European Federalists Malta, KNZ – Kunsill Nazzjonali taz-Zgħazagħ, KSU – Kunsill Studenti Universitarji, MADS – Malta Association for Dental Students, MHSA – Malta Health Students’ Association, MKSA – Media and Knowledge Sciences Association, MMSA – Malta Medical Students Association, MPSA – Malta Pharmaceutical Students’ Association, MUHS – Malta University Historical Society, S-Cubed – Science Students’ Society, SDM – Studenti Demokristjani Maltin, SĦS – Studenti Ħarsien Soċjali, Terra Di Mezzo (TDM) 2000 Malta, The Yuppie, TSA – Tourism Studies Association, UESA – University Engineering Students’ Association, UOMR – University of Malta Racing, Wolves RFC Malta, We Are – The University of Malta LGBT Society.

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