After today’s vote in the EP that approved the “Common European Asylum System,” the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security said that it wishes to underline that the EU must now focus on increasing tangible solidarity among the Member States, mainly in the form of intra-EU relocation, given that Malta faces disproportionate pressure .

The Government said that it “believes that such solidarity would de facto ensure the upkeep of common standards across the Union, not only in terms of recognition of status, but also in terms of eventual integration opportunities. It has to be recognised that certain Member States, such as Malta, have natural limitations when it comes to integration opportunities, mainly in view of small size and a small labour market.”

“Furthermore, failure to assign due attention to intra-EU relocation is not only detrimental to Member States exposed to disproportionate asylum pressures, but also to beneficiaries of international protection in those States,” the Ministry said.

The Home Affairs Ministry pointed out that “it is also pertinent to draw attention to the fact that in Malta individual asylum applicants have always been granted the possibility of an interview at first instance and that no recourse has been made to accelerated procedures, where no interview would be held. Indeed, an overwhelming majority of irregular migrants entering Malta, well over 90%, apply for international protection and are duly interviewed, something which attests to the accessibility of the asylum system. Moreover, Malta has always allowed asylum seekers to stay in its territory pending the outcome of appeals procedures in line with the proposed new legislation.”

The Ministry also said that “investment in the Office of the Refugee Commissioner has enabled a more expeditious determination of cases at first instances, thereby reducing the term in detention for most genuine asylum seekers. Maltese policy exempts vulnerable persons, including minors, from the detention requirement.”

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