The media can be an important factor in bringing about positive cultural awareness vis-à-vis migration, in so doing helping to combat racism and xenophobia, said Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela.
Minister Abela was addressing the first edition of the Migration Media Award that was held in Valletta on Wednesday 14th June 2017 under the auspices of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The award is a new EU-funded journalism competition bringing together four partners based on the initiative of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The EUROMED Migration IV and Open Media Hub projects, funded by the EU, developed the scheme in partnership with the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and Malta's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion. A total of 35 journalists from 16 countries were awarded for their journalistic excellence on migration in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
"We would not be realistic and correct if we fail to acknowledge that migration is indeed a challenge," said Minister Abela. "However, with challenges come opportunities, and we believe that there is an urgent need to evolve, over time, our perception on migration towards a more holistic one. One strong means of doing so is through the media".
He explained that, to encourage journalists to dare to go beyond the emergency scenario and focus also on the daily reality of migrants and refugees, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs embarked on this ambitious and innovative project that has at its core the aim of re-balancing the narrative of migration in the Mediterranean and awarding journalistic excellence on the subject.
Abela pointed out that in the past years Malta has placed the topic of migration high on its agenda, also during the current Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Malta has been a strong advocate of the importance of addressing migration in a comprehensive manner.
Malta looks forward to continue building on the good cooperation established during these past six months since the launch of the Migration Media Award on the 25th January in Brussels by former Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella, Minister Abela said, acknowledging his predecessor's hard work and dedication both as minister and during his entire political career.
Meanwhile, on Thursday 15th June 2017, Minister Abela received Michael Spindelegger, Director General of the ICMPD, and Martijn Pluim, ICMPD's Director for Migration Dialogues and Cooperation. The Minister affirmed Malta's commitment to become the first Mediterranean country to join this international organisation.