Malta to host EU's asylum HQ

Malta has won the right to host the headquarters of the European Asylum Support Office, its first EU agency since joining the EU nearly six years ago.

The island managed to fight off competition from Cyprus and Bulgaria, following its failed attempts in the past years to lure one of the EU's agencies to Malta.

The agency, which will have a budget of almost €50 million and employ 100 officials in the first three years of operation, will be based in a newly built government complex in the Grand Harbour, next door to the Malta Maritime Authority.

Learning from its past experiences, Malta has been lobbying intensely for this agency for the past year, with all the main government entities, particularly the Office of the Prime Minister, Malta's Permanent Representation in Brussels and the island's diplomatic missions in the EU focusing on guaranteeing the support of the majority of member states.

This diplomatic blitz, together with professional public relations including slick presentations of Malta's offering, reaped results as Cyprus and Bulgaria decided to withdraw their application when they realised that 22 of 27 member states backed Malta's bid.

"This is a very important win for Malta and a concrete recognition of our efforts in the past months," Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici told The Times as he emerged from the decisive closed-doors meeting in Brussels yesterday.

"I want to publicly thank all those who earned Malta this important decision, but particularly I want to make it a point to thank Richard Cachia Caruana for this one," he said, referring to Malta's Permanent Representative in Brussels, whose office has been pivotal in coordinating the island's efforts and secure the bid.

The agency, which is expected to be up and running next year, will be responsible to help improve the implementation of the Common European Asylum System.

Its purpose is to facilitate, coordinate and strengthen practical cooperation among member states on many aspects of asylum, particularly by providing operational support to countries subject to strong pressure on their asylum systems.

Asked whether this agency would send a message to would-be migrants that Malta was more disposed to receive them, Dr Mifsud Bonnici disagreed.

"Although we have always mantained our obligations, even in circumstances which proved to be very difficult because of the lack of space and resources, the agency will mean we will take migration issues more seriously.

"All migration issues, including illegal migration, will be coordinated from Malta and would-be immigrants would know they will be immedietly returned if they try to enter the EU illegally."

Hosting EU agencies is always sought after by member states, particularly as they add prestige while generating income for the economy.

Apart from the multi-million annual budget of EU funds spent in the host country to run an agency, various other economic spin-offs are generated such as hosting technical meetings and conferences for EU officials, and accomodation in hotels.

Malta is also bidding to host another agency, Galileo, responsible for the EU's satellite navigation system. However, since Malta is hosting one office, the Galileo agency will probably be assigned to another member state.