Spotlight: Migration firmly in focus as Malta hosts two major int'l summits

In November, Malta will be hosting two major international meetings: the Valletta Summit on Migration and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Both are of great relevance to the international community, not only because together they involve the participation of more than half of the member states of the United Nations, but even more so because of the subject matters being discussed.

The challenges posed by the global phenomenon of migration will feature in both meetings.

According to the European Union (EU), the Valletta Summit aims to build on existing cooperation processes between Europe and Africa. It will bring together the EU member states, 38 other countries engaged in the Rabat and Khartoum processes of the EU-Africa dialogue and representatives of the EU and African Union Commissions, the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration.

The summit will focus on addressing the root causes of migration by working to help create peace, stability and economic development.

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat earlier this year said the Mediterranean Sea, often referred to as the "cradle of civilization," has now "sadly been turned into a graveyard."

Stressing that the "first priority must remain the saving of lives," Muscat expressed the hope that the Valletta Summit would successfully enhance the dialogue and understanding between European and African leaders in addressing migration "comprehensively, in a spirit of partnership and cooperation."

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in late October urged the international community to find innovative ways of financing to respond to the migrant crisis, noting that "an exceptional situation requires exceptional financing."

"How can we engage in a serious and responsible dialogue with our African cousins if we are unable to keep the promises we made to them? We need to arrive in Valetta with pockets full not only with promises, but with promises kept," he said.

As tens of thousands of people continue to flee from wars, conflicts, poverty and want in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere, the agenda of the Valletta Summit assumes greater and greater relevance.

This demands true and genuine engagement from all parties both in resolving existing situations that are undermining the achievement of peace, stability and economic development and, perhaps more importantly, in avoiding in future a repeat of past mistakes or errors of judgment that are at the root of situations that continue to generate so much suffering.

An intrinsic part of this exercise is the soul-searching required of developed states on action taken or lack of action in promoting sustainable development in developing countries and on existing international trade practices that are often detrimental to the interests of developing states, particularly the least developed.

Addressing the UN Summit on the Post-2015 Development Agenda in September, Malta's President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca called on countries "belonging to economic power blocs, to revise their 'fortress' economic and agrarian policies because of the way these polices impinge negatively on economic development in Africa and other continents or regions."

Soul-searching is also necessary by states forming part of military alliances or coalitions on the opportunity or otherwise in opting for military action, rather than political dialogue and negotiations, in seeking to resolve particular situations in other states. Time has shown that the so-called "quick fixes" based on military intervention tend to create more problems than they resolve.

Though welcome in setting the record straight for students of history, apologies for military interventions years after the events do nothing to reverse the misery imposed on whole populations or to comfort the families of those who lost their lives in vain, be they inhabitants of the targeted countries or military personnel of the interventionist states.

"If governments, whether right or left-wing, hold that national self-interest is more important than collaborative solutions, then there are two victims: the refugees and the cohesion of the European Union," European Parliament President Martin Schulz said last week introducing the European Parliament's debate on the migration crisis.

Malta's Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil said recently: "We must curtail the flow through an effective foreign policy which makes a real difference in countries like Syria, Libya and Turkey and not remain helpless on the root causes of migration."

It is time perhaps to reflect on the opportunity of less words and more energetic action through greater investment in countries that are in dire need to eliminate poverty through the generation of more employment opportunities.

Development and rule of law remain key elements in providing people with a decent livelihood in a safe environment for individuals and their families.

When these elements are lacking, people will continue to leave their homes to seek a better future elsewhere -- something which should not be difficult to understand, since migration to other parts of the world was only till recently part of Europe's history. Endit