Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia has called on the European Commission to act swiftly to implement measures identified by the Task Force Mediterranean with clear target dates and priorities.
Speaking during the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs council meeting, which discussed illegal migration among other matters, the minister warned that the work of the Task Force risked dying a natural death if all it was used for was to catalogue the actions everyone was taking.
He said that as a neighbouring state to Italy, Malta shared the daily efforts of saving lives at sea.
“The situation in the Mediterranean remains critical. Libya’s ability to control its borders is clearly compromised, whilst some of the countries of origin whose nationals commonly arrive on EU soil (many via Libya) continue experiencing the same crises they have had to endure over the previous years. The implications of these factors, in terms of irregular migration, are obvious,” he said.
Minister Mallia emphasised that difficult situations required determined reactions so the Council had to deliver.
Dr Mallia said efforts should be focused on actions that would contribute to prevent illegal migration flows.
He said that the dangers of irregular migration and realities in Europe had to be publicised and migrant smuggling networks dismantled. It should also be possible to lodge an asylum application and obtain protection closer to the country of origin without risking life and limb, besides exposure to exploitation.
Return and readmission were also a priority and there had to be an increased focus on measures to improve the rate of returns.
On one hand, this addressed the consequences of the illegal flows but it also contributed to prevention by discouraging would-be illegal migrants - demonstrating that illegal migration to the EU was not a viable option.
In this regard, he welcomes the pilot project on returns as a first tangible step to integrating readmission in the EU’s external relations in line with the more for more principle, “something we have repeatedly said needs to be done”. The minister hoped this pilot project would be launched as soon as possible.
“It is evident that these measures can only be taken through enhanced cooperation between the EU and third countries of origin and transit. The relocation of beneficiaries of international protection is still needed until such time as we have a more structural system in place,” he said.
Dr Mallia said that a more proactive, rather than descriptive, use of the communication on the task force, with a clear plan as to the implementation of these actions, as well as identify gaps and think outside the box as Frontex suggested.