Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Malta-based EU asylum office opens tomorrow
The European Asylum Support Office, the first EU agency to be located in Malta, will be inaugurated tomorrow during a ceremony that will be attended by European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström.
The agency was established with the aim of enhancing practical cooperation on asylum matters and helping member states fulfil European and international obligations to give protection to those in need.
Malta had managed to secure the support of member states to host this agency in Valletta after fending off stiff competition from Cyprus and Bulgaria, which also wanted to host the agency’s headquarters.
For its first three years of operations, EASO has been allocated a budget of almost €50 million and is expected to recruit about 100 officials, which could include Maltese nationals.
The agency launched some of its activities last November but, according to the Commission, it should now be fully operational.
Ms Malmström said the agency would provide support to member states facing unexpected flows of asylum seekers and to those that simply needed to make their asylum system more fair and efficient.
“It is an indispensable instrument to help achieve a more comprehensive and protective common European asylum system.
“Practices for receiving asylum seekers still vary considerably from one EU country to the other and much more has to be done to achieve a greater convergence of approaches. The support office will have an important role in that,” she said.
Following the official opening, the EASO management board will meet next week when executive director Rob Visser will present the implementation of the agency’s work programme for 2011 and propose an outline for the 2012 work programme.
The agency will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta.
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Mr Joe Xuereb
Jun 20th 2011, 02:40
So Malta fought off stiff competition to get hold of this accolade! Gosh! The prestige! The 50million euros! As we say, Malta qatt ma rrifjutat qamh (Malta never rebuffed an offer of wheat). The problem is that not be the beneficiary of the fifty million which is meant to pay for what the hefty task that the agency has been set up to do plus wages for the people who man it, most of whom wont be Maltese nationals. So whats in it for us?
Especially if the influx of migrants is not stemmed, indeed it will be encouraged, Malta will be a virtual half-way house to a steady stream of people who will be temporarily located in Malta, will feel temporary and will be treated as temporary transients. So much for integration (which wont happen in any case but thats a different matter). And someone reckons that this permanent temporary state of affairs will have no impact on Maltese society? The morale of the people if nothing else? And nobody realises that this will undermine the state of the mental health of the
Nation? History has shown that the Maltese as a nation seem destined to be divided. The divorce saga confirmed that. And now this. Because there will be those wholl invite strangers inside and to stay for breakfast.. And those who wouldnt. I mean, it is not like Malta is bereft of problems of its own, and where would I start?
Maltas tiny and any changes, however minute, are immediately noticeable.
Colin Stanley
Jun 18th 2011, 11:47
Malta managed to secure the support of other member states to host this agency after fending off stiff competition, from Cyprus and Bulgaria, why, because the other two countries pulled out in time, nobody else wanted this agency, niether did cyprus or bulgaria. EASO has been awarded 50 million euro and is expected to employ about 100 officials, MAYBE there will be some Maltese amongst them. big deai.
Ms Louise Vella
Jun 18th 2011, 11:46
The Swede Cecilia Malmstrom should start from the beginning, that is, by stopping the influx of illegal immigrants from North Africa to the shores of Southern Europe. This can be done by strengthening Frontex. At present Frontex operates as a ferry service taking illegal immigrants from the south to the north of the Mediterraneann Sea. It should become a robust coastguard preventing the boats from
approaching European waters. That way the problem of the influx will be solved. The number of illegal immigrants to Malta, Italy, Greece etc will diminish. And the EU will not have to carry on with its
failed policy of burden sharing. After all Sweden has started by giving the bad example. It did not take a single one of our illegal immigrants.
Stephen Koludrovic
Jun 18th 2011, 12:52
I like the part where Cecila says {said the agency would provide support to member states facing unexpected flows of asylum seekers and to those that simply needed to make their asylum system more fair and efficient.}
Now I wonder if she means us, or them.
Phil Humphries
Jun 18th 2011, 14:37
Quite right. The Government's own statistics show that last year's 'push back' policy proved far more effective than leaving the gate open or offering a leg-up over the wall.