Malta does not yet fully support a European proposal for a joint border and coast guard to protect external frontiers, complicating the EU’s hopes of hammering out an agreement by June.
The European Commission proposed in December the creation of a European Border and Coast Guard Agency consisting of 1,500 members that would replace Frontex. Its aim is to stop the flow of migrants across Europe’s external borders.
The agency will also carry out risk analysis and vulnerability assessments to identify and address weak spots as well as facilitating the return of migrants who do not qualify for international protection.
Malta is among a number of countries that raised concerns when justice and home affairs ministers met in Brussels last week to discuss the proposal, intended to be concluded by the end of the Dutch presidency term in June.
A spokeswoman told the Times of Malta the government’s view was that border management should remain primarily in the hands of individual member states to handle.
International reports have suggested that Malta, along with Greece and Spain, were particularly concerned by plans to allow EU guards to be deployed on a member state’s territory without their explicit consent.
The spokeswoman said the government did not exclude additional cooperation among member states “or an eventual agency” and remained confident that the Dutch presidency would fulfil its commitment to reaching an agreement.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, who advocated the establishment of a European border guard as an MEP, told this newspaper that, despite concerns over national sovereignty, Malta stood to gain from the proposal.
“Financial and technical back-up would be beneficial, not damaging, to our national interest,” he said, highlighting the extensive EU assistance Malta had received to date to protect its external borders. Dr Busuttil, however, said imposing border guards on a member state without its government’s authorisation would be a step too far.
“I would support a system where national border guards protect external borders on behalf of the EU and can call on the assistance of other countries. If they do not accept help, they should be suspended from Schengen,” he said.
Meanwhile, EU ministers announced last week the start of a process that will allow member states to extend temporary internal border controls for a maximum of two years. So far, six Schengen countries – including France, Germany and Austria – have reintroduced internal border controls in an effort to deal with security concerns surrounding migration.
The Home Affairs Ministry said it was too early to comment on the development but added “the right balance should be struck between free movement and addressing the current situation by ensuring the security of our citizens”.