Malta to host MED5 meeting in June

Malta will host the next MED5 meeting, following an agreement reached between the ministers during the recent summit held in Italy, the government said.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment Byron Camilleri attended a MED5 meeting in Naples, together with the ministers responsible for Home Affairs and Migration of Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain. The discussions focused on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the external dimension of migration and returns. The meeting was also attended by EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, and the executive director of Frontex Hans Leijtens.

Minister Camilleri said that “Malta has made major improvements in recent years to address the challenges linked to irregular migration, including by increasing the resources of the national competent authorities, investing on returns and reaching out to third countries”.

“This approach has proven very effective, in fact last year Malta registered a 93% decrease in the number of irregular arrivals compared to five years ago, while the rate of returns has been considerably increasing year on year.”

The minister said that there is a direct relationship between the number of irregular arrivals and the rate of returns. The minister noted how these efforts will continue to be strengthened through the implementation of the Pact. However, the minister also noted how with the Pact the MED5 countries are taking up significant responsibilities and therefore there’s a need to ensure that the challenges Mediterranean frontline countries face are well taken into account.

The ministers highlighted how whereas Malta is fully committed towards the Pact’s full implementation, one needs to be realistic and acknowledge the fact that while the Pact has several positive elements, it alone will not address the challenges we face with irregular migration. In this regard, Minister Camilleri noted how the external dimension of migration is key to address the challenges we are facing today, which necessitate increased efforts in the areas of prevention and return.

The minister highlighted the importance of innovative solutions as the old ways of doing things have unfortunately failed to yield the necessary results. In particular, the minister highlighted the establishment of return hubs in third countries for failed asylum seekers, noting how this would be a game-changer, effectively removing incentives for economic migrants to come to the European Union irregularly.

Minister Camilleri welcomed the Proposal for a Return Regulation launched by the Commission in March, which among other elements expands the definition of the country of return to clearly allow for the establishment of return hubs in third countries, the introduction of obligations for returnees to cooperate with the authorities and clear consequences in case of non-cooperation. The minister also emphasised the need to increase cooperation with third countries by building strategic partnerships based on mutual trust.

The ministers of Malta, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain signed a Joint Statement in anticipation of the Justice and Home Affairs Meeting to be held on 12-13 June.