Inter-ministerial discussions are underway for a policy on migration that would be wholly executed by one ministry to be drawn up, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said today.

He said this was of utmost importance and appealed to the public to understand the reality that most migrants in Malta were political, and not economic, refugees who had to seek refuge to escape hardship.

“We need much more information and education for the public to understand the phenomena of migration,” he said.

The minister was speaking during a conference organised by the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers, which is seeking ways to extend a project relating to information sessions to residents of open centres.

The project, which is now coming to an end, has so far been funded by the European Union.

Mr Abela said this project was of utmost importance for the successful integration of migrants and options of how it could be extended were being considered.

He said that a helpful booklet will be launched and a debate on integration was being organised by another ministry.

The minister said that the government appreciated the work of non-governmental organisation, which should remain key partners in the issue of migration.

The state also had its responsibility and improvements were needed. A CEO for Awas was appointed few months ago to complement the work of the director of operations and the agency was going through capacity building. Eight support workers were being appointed.

He said that changes will be taking place in the next couple of months to ensure that matters will continue to progress.