Asylum Office urged to give priority to Greece

Cecilia Malmström, the European Commissioner responsible for migration issues, told the inaugural board meeting of the Malta-based Asylum Support Office today that one of its first tasks should be to coordinate the provision of support to Greece in implementing its National Action Plan on Asylum Reform and Migration Management.

Ms Malmström delivered a message by video during the inaugural meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

She said that various member states had to cope with a difficult asylum situation and would be seeking the help of the new Office.

“One of the first tasks of the Support Office should be to coordinate the provision of support to Greece in implementing its National Action Plan on Asylum Reform and Migration Management.”

The Commissioner expressed her appreciation to the Maltese Government for hosting the Office. a

“The EASO will play a crucial role as a centre of expertise on the Member States' asylum systems. It will contribute to better implementation of the asylum legislation by Member States and sharing of best practices,” she said.

“You will first and foremost need to define a forward looking work programme that will enshrine the three broad fields of action: ° practical cooperation, ° support to Member States under particular pressure, and ° contribute to the implementation of the Common European Asylum System. The Support Office will also provide support for relocation and for the external dimension of the Common European Asylum System, including resettlement.”

She said the new Office needed to work hand in hand with key partners such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, Member States, other agencies working in the field, namely Frontex and the Fundamental Rights Agency, UNHCR and the wider civil society.

“Expectations are high; the tasks are many. Priorities need to be set. The real impact of the Support Office will depend on its ability to respond quickly to needs and to deliver on priority tasks.”

After referring to the situation in Greece, the Commissioner also said the deployment of the Rapid Border Intervention Teams, coordinated by Frontex, called for a swift cooperation between the Support Office and Frontex.

In his address, Dr Gonzi said that Malta had been instrumental in raising the profile of migration and asylum issues on the European Union’s agenda.

He pointed out that in 2008, and again in 2009, Malta received the largest number of asylum applications as a proportion of population among the 27 member states. Furthermore, due to the country of origin of the applicants that arrived here, Malta was providing a refuge for a disproportionately large number of beneficiaries of international protection in relation to the country’s size.

“This is why we continue to work to persuade Member States that can provide a future for these internationally protected people to do so. Malta certainly cannot. “

The establishment of the Support Office, Dr Gonzi said, was the result of a much-welcomed objective set in 2008 by the Union in the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum to shape a common European approach to migration.

Through the setting up of the Support Office here, Malta had established itself at the very centre of this united effort while the Union had sent out a clear message that Malta was not alone in addressing the pressures that face it, Dr Gonzi said.