Opening up new legal channels for migration could reduce the need for people to cross the Mediterranean irregularly in rickety boats, said Ambassador William L. Swing, the director general of the International Organisation for Migration, who arrived in Malta yesterday.

Referring to similar calls by European Parliament President Martin Schulz and other politicians, Ambassador Swing suggested that asylum claims for Europe could be processed in countries of origin or transit. The details of such a scheme were yet to be worked out but the director general said IOM was willing to assist if it came to fruition.  

Ambassador Swing said he was on the island to “listen and learn”, with the aim of making proposals on how the IOM can work with Malta to effectively manage mixed migration flows and address the challenges the country faces.

Today he has meetings scheduled with Foreign Minister George Vella, Home Affairs Minister Emmanuel Mallia, Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli, and executive director of the European Asylum Support Office, Robert Visser.

A visit of Ħal Far Open Centre is also scheduled.

The official visit follows the tragic events of last month in the waters between Libya, Malta and Italy, where hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers lost their lives. 

Established in 1951 and currently counting 151 member states, IOM is the leading intergovernmental organisation in the field of migration.

In Malta, IOM has been actively supporting the Government in migration management since 2007, through assisted voluntary return and reintegration in countries of origin, resettlement of refugees to the US and European countries, counter-trafficking initiatives, and integration projects addressing both refugees and Third Country Nationals.

Read an interview with Ambassador Swing in tomorrow's Times of Malta.