Government accuses Opposition of obstructing efforts to put migration on EU agenda

The government this afternoon accused the Opposition of obstructing its efforts to ensure that immigration is given more attention in international fora. The statement came in reply to comments this morning by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil. Questioned on Radio 101 about developments on immigration, including the public's reaction, Dr Busuttil said the people reacted according to the way they were led. The government had gone into panic mode and that caused the people to worry. What was happening showed how the government had acted in an immature way, showing lack of experience and lack of preparation. In a nutshell, he said, the migrants who were coming to Malta had still come, but what was different now was that the people were divided and there was a worrying level of xenophobia, if not racism. And in the European Union, if not the world, Malta was being shown in a  negative way. The reputation which Malta had built for itself in the EU over nine years was wiped away in a day. Dr Busuttil said he agreed that the EU should do more regarding migration. That was what he had insisted for over the past years. The EU had taken 700 migrants from Malta and given Malta €100m in aid on...