The first Relocation Forum was convened today in Brussels by Cecilia Malmstrom, European Commissioner for Home Affairs. Commissioner Malmstrom had announced that the Relocation Forum would have been organised by the end of summer, following a bilateral meeting during a Justice and Home Affairs council meeting in Lithuania last July with the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Manuel Mallia, the Department of Information said.

The Forum was attended by the EU Member States, the Schengen Associated States, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Presentations were delivered by Commissioner Malmstrom, EASO, IOM, UNHCR, as well as Malta and Bulgaria. The Commissioner emphasised the importance of relocation as a tangible form of solidarity, which provides immediate relief in situations of particular pressure. 

The Commissioner also made reference to Malta's specific case and reiterated that the Commission is continuing to support relocation from Malta. Finally, the Commissioner also stated that any Member State may be in need of relocation in future, further to pointing out that relocation is particularly relevant in the context of the development of a Common European Asylum System. Robert Visser, Executive Director, EASO, also highlighted the need for relocation from Malta given its specific situation, further to advocating a Common Approach towards relocation. 

Those concerned also discussed past relocation projects, including good practices, difficulties experienced and possible solutions to those difficulties, including simplified EU funding procedures to encourage participation by Member States.

The Maltese representative described the asylum situation in Malta, emphasising the disproportionate pressures being faced, which require intervention, through relocation, by the EU and its Member States.

Relocation will be further discussed at Ministerial level at the forthcoming Justice and Home Affairs Council in October.