PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, SECURITY, REFORMS AND EQUALITY Minister Byron Camilleri attends the meeting of the Home Affairs Council of Ministers

Minister for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality Byron Camilleri attended the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Home Affairs in Luxembourg. The meeting focused on immigration and asylum, primarily on the Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management and the Asylum Procedures Regulation, two fundamental pillars of the Pact on Migration and Asylum presented by the European Commission in September 2020.

Minister Camilleri stressed that Malta's situation and vulnerabilities are different from those of other member states. While the numbers of irregular arrivals and responsibilities are a burden for every member state, for Malta these burdens are greater due to our small size.

He stressed that, therefore, this decision should be informed by the principle that we should have peace of mind that if a situation arises where we need assistance, such assistance will not only be available, but our needs will be fully addressed. He stressed that judging by this criterion, the relevant legislative instrument offers no peace of mind.

Minister Camilleri stressed that he appreciates the difficulty in reaching a compromise whereby the concerns of each member state are addressed. He said that he understands that several member states have a problem with secondary movements, but in order to address this problem, a collective effort is required to reduce irregular arrivals. He said that Malta has worked, and will continue to work, both externally and internally, in order to keep irregular migrant arrivals in check. Malta's arrivals primarily originate from Libya, and we are constantly investing in a fruitful relationship, while a strong effort is being made so that those who do not qualify for asylum and abuse the system do not stay in our country and are returned to their country of origin. He stressed that, while recently the number of irregular arrivals to our shores has been low, Malta remains vulnerable due to its small size and geographical position.

The Minister said that the reform in this sector must reach a balance between the new burdens that will have to be borne by countries located on the border, including Malta, and the solidarity from the other member states in particular circumstances. He said that this agreement has not reached a good balance between responsibility and solidarity.

Minister Camilleri said that, while the existing responsibilities will increase, the proposed solidarity mechanism, while mandatory, remains flexible and, in real terms, rather weak because it does not provide the necessary guarantees that the needs of the member states will be met. He stressed that it is still preferable that solidarity is based on objective criteria that reflect the reality of those border countries, especially the small member states.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers lasted until late in the evening where several texts were presented with the aim of improving the Pact, and reaching a compromise between several member states. Malta appreciates the commitment of the Swedish Presidency and the Commission, who worked so that the Pact is strengthened and a genuine attempt at compromise is made.

However, Minister Camilleri said that while the Pact contains some positive aspects, Malta is not convinced that the solution that was presented will translate into a fair and effective system that can withstand the current and even future challenges for our country. Accordingly, Malta chose to abstain.

Finally, Minister Camilleri pointed out that while there was agreement in the Council of Ministers of Home Affairs on the Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management and the Asylum Procedures Regulation, this is a first step, as the legislative process will continue to be discussed with the European Parliament. Therefore, Malta will continue to work constructively to address these challenges.

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