European Commission calls for a new migration deal with third countries has Malta's full backing, Home Affairs minister Carmelo Abela said today. 

Dr Abela said the initiative was a step in the right direction and "could signal a turning point in collaborative and productive engagement with countries of origin and transit." 

The Commission communication sets out a vision for migration compact agreements with key migratory countries, including increased engagement with Libya and Tunisia.

Dr Abela said that Malta fully supports the initiative, noting that it builds on the Valletta Action Plan for engagement with key African countries. He told his EU counterparts that Malta expects the migration compact agreements “to be operational and specific, setting out actions rather than principles” and drawing on the full range of the EU’s policy options, a ministry statement said. 

The minister urged member states to dedicate as much commitment to issues stemming from the central Mediterranean migratory route as to routes through the Balkans. He highlighted the fact that flows along the central Mediterranean route have returned to the same level as last year.