In six months’ time, Malta will, for the first time, hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU. It's an opportunity to show that the value of a country does not depend on its size or its demographic population, but the quality of its people and the work that it does.
In the past two days, as Minister for Home Affairs, I attended the Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHAC) held in the capital city of Slovakia, Bratislava. EU Home Affairs Ministers gathered for this first informal council organised under the Slovak Presidency. Walking up the stairs of the Reduta building, my thoughts drifted to the fact that next time round, the JHAC meeting will be in Valletta. While formal council meetings are still held in Brussels, the informal councils organised prior to the formal ones are held in the capital of the country holding the Presidency.
The topics of migration and border management were high on the agenda. Maybe some take it for granted that these topics are chosen for discussion. But for us, a country that has fought alongside a few others southern Mediterranean countries for years, to convince the EU that migration was not the problem of a few countries but which needed a holistic approach, is a sign of how far we've come in getting this issue treated seriously.
Migration: a credibility test for EU
We hear a lot about this phenomenon, its roots and consequences. The truth is that managing migration has become a credibility test for the EU. Failing is not an option. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to this human crisis, indeed human tragedy. There are only ways and means of managing it better.
In Bratislava, as a Minister coming from a country who experienced firsthand our struggles with this scenario, I appealed for, and stressed the importance, of unity among states. Migration is not a situation which can be handled by the EU alone but requires a global approach.
EU must be united to convince international community
However, I emphasised that the EU must be united in order to convince the international community, that this is a matter of global responsibility. We believe that there should be a clear message in favour of a global compact on sharing responsibility for refugees and for safe, regular and orderly migration.
We look forward to the two UN high level meetings being held in September. We hope that real progress can be made on a strong and coherent response from the international community to the growing global phenomenon of large movements of refugees and migrants.
Solidarity with those in need of international protection
We acknowledge the work carried out by the EU Commission since the launch of the EU agenda on migration in the past year, and the faith it restores in Brussels and its willingness to give this issue its due importance. Yet, the road ahead is long, complex and marked with hurdles.
We trust that under this Slovak Presidency the way forward on the reform of the Common European Asylum System will start taking a tangible shape. The need for a system that is resilient and can withstand future challenges is quite pressing.
Common EU problems, common EU solutions
After the JHAC, while addressing members of the press, Commissioner Avramopolous remarked that common EU problems require common EU solutions. He added that in migration management, the EU had begun showing examples of concrete actions, with the latest being the proposals to enhance border control in a smart manner.
Border protection smartly
Border protection was in effect, the second item discussed on the agenda. It's an issue definitely getting the attention of nations across the continent.
In this regard, Malta appreciates the compromise reached on the proposal with regard to the European Border and Coast Guard agency, especially following the vote in its favour by MEPs. It is expected to start operating by autumn this year.
The new agency will have a stronger role in the return of illegal migrants and will also have the necessary resources to draw upon should a member state request assistance. Aimed at providing a rapid reserve of border guards to a country in crisis, the agency needs to be able to draw on a minimum of 1,500 experts that can be deployed within four days. In its implementation process, each state will be expected to pledge contributions.
As the next country to hold the Presidency, and considering the timelines we have heard so far, Malta will be ready to take the eventual proposal forward with all due importance.
In the coming six months, the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security will continue to press forward with its preparations, ready for when the calendar features 1st January 2017, and Europe's eyes will focus on this rock of an island in the middle of Mediterranean Sea.