Monday, 30th November 2009 - 14:46CET
Updated: Malta wins bid to host EU Asylum Office
The complex at Grand Harbour, Marsa, which will host the Asylum Office.
Malta was today selected to host the new European Commission European Asylum Support Office (EASO) - the first EU agency to be based here.
The Office is being set up in terms of an EU decision taken last February following the signing of the Immigration and Asylum Pact.
Today's decision was taken by the EU Home Affairs Council where Malta was represented by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Malta's representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana.
Malta had lobbied intensively to host the agency and had gone into today's meeting with high hopes of achieving its aims. The other countries vying to host the Office, Cyprus and Bulgaria, withdrew from the contest and the final decision was unanimous.
The Office will have an estimated start-up budget for 2010 of €5,250,000. The total indicative budget for the 2010-2013 period amounts to €40,250,000.
Once operational, it is estimated that the Agency will have a minimum staff of 60 which will rise to 100-120 by 2013, including asylum support teams.
Malta has proposed to house the Asylum Office in the complex used by the Malta Maritime Authority in Marsa.
The total office area offered for the Asylum Office is of 2,400 square metres spread over three floors.
Malta has also offered to sponsor the use of the Mediterranean Conference Centre for major meetings of the Asylum Office.
ROLE OF THE ASYLUM OFFICE
The purpose of the Asylum Office will be to facilitate the exchange of information, analyses and experience among Member States, and develop practical cooperation between the administrations in charge of examining asylum applications.
It will also help to improve the implementation of the Common European Asylum System and strengthen practical cooperation among Member States on asylum.
The Office will provide operational support to Member States which are subject to strong pressure on their asylum systems, including the coordination of asylum support teams made up of asylum experts.
It will provide scientific and technical assistance for Community policy-making and legislation in all areas having a direct or indirect impact on asylum.
The EASO is to develop training for members of all national administrations, courts, tribunals and national services responsible for asylum matters in the Member States.
Today's decision came at the end of strong lobbying by Malta using the theme Building Bridges on Asylum.
Malta's efforts to bring the Office to Malta were spearheaded by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry thanked Malta's embassies for their work.
This was the second time that Malta had sought to host an EU agency, the other having been Frontex. That bid was lost to Poland.
PRIME MINISTER'S REACTION
The Prime Minister described the EASO decision as a major achievement for Malta: “Thanks to all those who were involved in promoting and negotiating Malta’s case. This is undoubtedly another remarkable achievment in Malta’s short history as a European Union Member State. Our efforts however must not stop here. It is now important to look ahead to setting up the Asylum Office in the shortest time possible so that it can start carrying out its functions which are of utmost importance to the country and the EU as a whole.”
Dr Mifsud Bonnici in comments said the setting up of the Office in Malta had been a priority for the Maltese government.
"The Office was a priority for us because it offers logistical support and functional assistance to countries which are facing the brunt of illegal immigration.
"EASO's strategic location in Malta will help in decreasing the pressures that illegal immigration is exerting on our country because it will bring more logic and humanity in separating those who deserve international protection from the persons who don't qualify for such assistance. Furthermore it will add a dimension of uniformity in the way that this process is carried out across all members states," the minister added.
Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said that since 2004, Malta is the fourth Member State, following Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary, to win a bid to host an EU agency or body.
"The Maltese Government made a huge effort in driving forward Malta’s bid to host the EASO and this effort has paid off in one of the quickest agency decisions of recent years. Besides the prestige of hosting such an important agency, and the economic benefits that this will bring to the country, EASO will also deliver tangible results to overburdened Member States in the area of asylum.”
Ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana, coordinator of the Malta bid, gave the following comment: “I am obviously extremely pleased at the result. It is always a great feeling when a lobbying campaign successfully comes to fruition. We faced tough competition, particularly from Cyprus, but ultimately we were able to persuade Member States to support Malta’s bid. My thanks go to all those who played a part in this success.”
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Comments
Initial capital of €5,250,000 and a budget for the 2010-2013 of €40,250,000. I would like to know what an 'Asylum Office' is going to do with ALL this money.
Time will soon tell us if we have built a bigger magnet than CERN.
Please explain your comment further.
"...there was no-one else left wanting this building on their precious soil?"
Għidilhom Ray. We need our precious soil to grow our precious potatoes.
My opinion which you called nastiness is nothing compared t the nastiness of the eu petty dictators.
Antoine Vella Have you ever heard the saying that "Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread"?
Seems that you and Gonzi didn't hear it.
K. Maniscalco Iz-zmien ghad jaghtik parir kif taghna bis-shubija fl-ue li hlief dizastri f'Malta ma gabitilniex.
J.Spiteri As Thomas Jefferson had said, "Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it."
jamie pace The opportunities that you speak of will only come for illegal immigrats.
Alfred Bugeja Why did Frontex go to Portugal on the Atlantic Coast when the greatest problem is in the central Mediterranean?
Labour and particularly Joseph Muscat had told us that we will not get our own Commissioner, that our MEPs will be a waste of space in the EU Parliament, that we will be like 'makku' in the EU. How can anyone believe them now that we have even acquired a major EU agency?
Reading some of the comments from Labour supporters I fully understand the magnitude of the problem faced by Joseph Muscat to change his party. But then he is only reaping what he himself has sown in the past.
A few brave people cannot save this country. Good luck Malta, you need it !
I smell something fishy in the fact that ONLY MALTA, CYPRUS AND BULGARIA APPLIED FOR THIS OFFICE. iF IT IS SOMETHING TO BE GLAD ABOUT , HOW COME ITALY , FRANCE, GREECE ETC ETC NEVER EVEN APPLIED FOR IT???
Informed explanations ONLY please.
Sur Galea ... onestament, qed nghidlek: aghti cans, tibzax, issa jitlaghlek il-Gvern tieghek umbaghad tpaxxa bil-mirakli li jaghmel!
step 1. remove the red flag from in front of your eyes.
step 2. read about what such agency/office can do
step 3. put it in the "Malta" perpective.
step 4. switch off super one, and start using your head....
Apart from the benefits mentioned by Dr Carm Mifsud Bonnici, EASO means more investment and jobs for the Maltese
It was Sarkozy and the French EU Presidency who spearheaded this Immigration pact, which is based on stricter control of migratory flows (from developing countries) while providing human rights for genuine asylum seekers.
In a very broad sense, people who are genuine refugees will be provided professional support. It does not necessarily mean that it will be an attraction for illegal immigrants
On the contrary, these would prefer to land somewhere whereby they would not be selected and processed in a professional manner (i.e. they take advantage of confusion and lack of information on their background, something which has happened in the past).
Meanwhile, we are opening another niche in the job market. The more pros we have on this subject, the better we can handle such matters. It will also increasingly put Malta's immigration issue at the forefront of EU politics.
Igalea - can you please enlighten me why this is a magnet for illegal migrants? I can't see the point of a migrant wanting to come to Malta just to see a nice office :/
You are one of a kind, just like your dear Party...always grumbling and coming out with doubts!
This is a very good news to Malta. An EU agency to be set up in Malta would create work and more positive PR about Malta. The budget is a very substantial one.