Be the first to comment!EU Commissioner in discussions on the migration scenario in Malta
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The European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos visited the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) today to discuss the work of EASO in enhancing the implementation of the Common European Asylum System
Discussions were also held on the findings of two EASO actions conducted within the framework of the Task Force Mediterranean: the pilot project on information gathering in Malta and Italy on the phenomenon of facilitation of irregular migrants and the EASO pilot projects on joint processing activities in the field of asylum.
Moreover, EASO’s Executive Director gave the Commissioner an update on the latest asylum trends in the European Union.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, George W. Vella also held discussions with Mr. Dimitris Avramopolous, EU Commissioner responsible for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship.
The meeting was held this morning at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and focused primarily on the migration scenario in Malta. Developments in the region, particularly those in Libya as well as the security situation in the Mediterranean were also discussed.
In welcoming Mr Avramopulous to his new portfolio as Commissioner, Minister Vella elaborated on the difficulties encountered by Malta by the influxes of migrants primarily from countries in the Horn of Africa.
Minister Vella called for increased involvement by the European Commission and individual EU Member States in assisting countries, which like Malta, are bearing the brunt of these influxes.
Minister Vella expressed satisfaction at the Commission’s recent allocation of €17.1 million for Malta’s National Programme Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund covering the period 2014-2020.
He added that, this development is certainly a welcome step in the right direction but insisted that solidarity with Malta needs to be expressed also in terms of fair responsibility sharing.
Commissioner Avramopolous underlined his commitment to address Malta’s specific situation. He stated that, Malta’s proximity to countries going through a phase of instability has resulted in unprecedented pressures related to migration and security.
The Commissioner assured that Malta has the Commission’s support in the efforts being made to address existing and prospective difficulties. Malta, he added, is not alone in this scenario and the Commission will be doing its utmost to alleviate the situation.
