Immigration: Malmstrom in last minute appeal for solidarity with Malta

EU member states, particularly the larger ones, are not expected to show significant signs of concrete solidarity with Malta this afternoon, sources close to the Commission told timesofmalta.com in Brussels.

Despite a last-minute appeal by EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom before the start of this afternoon's pledging conference towards the pilot project for the resettlement of migrants currently in Malta, the majority of member states are expected to keep resisting the idea of burden sharing.

During a press conference at the end of the first session of the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting this afternoon, Commissioner Malmstrom urged member states to show their solidarity with Malta.

"I hope that member states will be making a big demonstration of solidarity with Malta this afternoon," the Commissioner told the press.

However, Commission sources revealed that "no big surprises" are expected during the pledging conference as apart from Germany, all the other big member states, particularly the UK, France, and Spain are not expected to make any significant offers.

"It is interesting to note that the biggest solidarity with Malta is being shown by the smallest of member states and non-EU countries," Commission sources said.

"On the other hand, despite their rhetoric on the need of solidarity, the larger member states are not pulling their weight even though they are the ones in the biggest position to help out."

This is the first time that the Commission is holding a pledging conference on Malta's pilot project. Last April the EU executive decided to extend the project in view of the more than 1000 refugees reaching Malta from Libya since the start of the conflict.

The Commission has made efforts during the last days to lure member states make pledges. However Commissioner Malmstrom warned that this is not an easy task as member states are still sceptical towards resettlement of migrants.