OVERCOMING FEAR AND CONTRIBUTING TO PEACE IN EUROPE AND BEYOND: A MALTESE PERSPECTIVE

I come from a tiny country. The smallest state in the European Union: The Island of Malta. Our population is around 400,000 and the area of the Maltese archipelago is 316 square kilometres.

Two recent events have had an impact on Malta in the past few years. These have been our joining the European Union and the recent large influx of irregular immigrants from Northern Africa in precarious boats. Both these events have provoked fears: A fear of losing our identity as Maltese; our religion and traditions. In the case of our joining the Union most of these fears were �counterbalanced� by the prospects of greater economic stability. However with regards to the immigrants� influx many Maltese also fear losing their jobs and the costs involved.

I believe that these new realities are also an opportunity for our country to grow and to break out of its closed and insular mentality. Whether we like it or not we must accept that we are no longer an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. We have entered the �global village�. Rather than being taken up by paralysing and destructive fears we must look at these changes as a new opportunity to work for peace and harmony with peoples around us.

When the late Pope John Paul II visited Malta in 2001 he told us that God has given Malta a special vocation to be a bridge between the different peoples of the Mediterranean. It is a fact that due to its very rich history Maltese culture has many common elements with peoples living both in the North and the South of the Mediterranean. The Maltese are religious people and in spite of many defects the majority are practicing Roman Catholics. Europe has, to a great extent lost touch with its religious roots. Malta in the European Union can surely be a witness to the richness of these roots. Besides having a strong economic infrastructure it is essential that Europe rediscovers its soul if it is to be a continent which fosters peace.

The Maltese language is very similar to Arabic. Malta has never been a colonial power. Up to its independence in 1964 Malta had been a colony of one power or another. The Maltese have shared this fate with many Arab nations and can thus understand them well. Since 1964 it has always had good relations with all its Arab neighbours. These are some of the reasons why Malta has an important role to play within the EU to foster good relations with the Arab world.

In recent years there has been a sharp increase of persons leaving the North African coast in overcrowded boats in order to seek a new life in Europe. Many do not make it and tragically end their lives on the way on the high seas. No less than 1.096 migrants have died at the gates of Europe since the beginning of the year. Many of those that cross over become undocumented migrants in several European countries. Malta is one of the countries, having received a proportionally large number of these migrants.

At present an average of 1500 arrive in Malta every year. The government�s policy, largely agreed to by the opposition party is that all arrivals, including women and children, are detained. Asylum seekers are released from detention only if and when they are granted some form of protection. If there is no reply on their application within twelve months, asylum seekers are released. The only exception is vulnerable people, who are released once screening is carried out and accommodation found - which may take months. It is worth noting that nearly half of asylum applicants have been granted protection so far. Although the basic structures necessary to provide accommodation and other essential services in detention have been set up, asylum seekers remain isolated and still face huge difficulties to obtain information and access social work and legal assistance. It is also very difficult for asylum seekers to challenge their detention and to seek redress for any abuses suffered, as the courts are often legally and practically inaccessible to them.

Because of the Dublin 2 Convention, Malta as the country which first receives an asylum seeker is obliged to handle his case and to deal with the outcome whatever that may entail, irrespective of the high ratio of immigrants to Malta�s population, the already high population density and the strain on resources. I believe that the authorities feel abandoned by other countries especially those of the European Union and that this situation is leading them to persist in going against the basic human rights of these people.

Another worrying fact is that many Maltese now see these people as a threat and racist sentiments are unfortunately on the increase. There have also been arson attacks mainly on the property of persons who have spoken up for the rights of these immigrants.

I appeal to you all to pray for Malta that God will open our eyes so that we will see these people in the way He sees them and start to treat them with the respect they deserve. Another way of helping is to put pressure on your governments so that they would help Malta by accepting to take refugees into their countries. This would ease the pressure of numbers and make things more manageable. Maybe it would be easier for the government to yield to our pressure and to change their present inhuman policies.

I believe that giving the �boat people� an opportunity to be spread out in various European countries more evenly is a positive way to start tackling the issue. Small countries cannot cope alone. However this is only a short term solution. Every effort must be made to integrate Africans in European Society. We should make every effort to understand them and where they are coming from. What are the root causes which push them to leave their homes and countries? To do this we need to break down our prejudices and enter into dialogue with them. Eventually, when we start to understand them then we could begin to act together to help Africa get rid of what is causing so many conflicts and misery. We must remember that many of the causes lie in the way Europe has treated Africa in the past and in its dealings with Africa today.

Is it too much to dream of a strong and prosperous Africa living in peace and harmony alongside Europe