UNCHR Italy has welcomed the efforts of the new government coalition composed of populist parties to "ensure that the country remains a key international actor in respect and dissemination of human rights, non-discrimination and international protection," while stressing, along with UNCHR Malta, the importance of established fruitful collaboration with the Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs of both countries in the implementation of key projects.
Concerns have been rising over a potential influx of asylum seekers during summer as Italy elected populist political parties who scrambled to form a coalition following months of negotiations.
While the right-wing League (LEGA) and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) seem to lie on opposite ends of the political spectrum, both parties have common ground on issues such as tougher laws on immigration, reform of pensions, a flat tax and a universal basic income.
Matteo Salvini, the Leader of the League, told supporters last Sunday at a rally in Northern Italy that "the free ride is over", warning migrants that "it's time to pack your bags"; while Silvio Berlusconi, who has close ties to the League, previously said that migrants saved in the Mediterranean will also be made to disembark in Malta, and not just Italy, as current regulations stipulate.
The Malta Independent sent questions to both UNCHR branches in Malta and Italy to ask whether they were concerned by Salvini's comments and whether the Italian government would be able to implement legislation preventing asylum seekers from entering the country.
A spokesperson for UNHCR Italy said that "Italy needs to keep governing migration in full respect of the international law and EU regulations. Italy has been generously saving lives at sea and protecting refugees and UNHCR welcomes the efforts of the new government to ensure that Italy remains a key international actor in respect and dissemination of human rights, non-discrimination and international protection.
"In recent years UNHCR has established a fruitful collaboration with the Ministries of Home and Foreign Affairs and we are ready to continue the constructive work that allowed the implementation of important projects aiming at the protection of asylum-seekers and refugees, promotion of cooperation with countries of transit and origin of refugees, strengthening resettlement, family reunification and seeking other safe and legal pathways."
UNHCR Malta was also asked whether they were expecting a greater number of boat arrivals this summer and whether they were looking to provide additional assistance to Mediterranean countries should they become overburdened.
"Malta should always remain ready for new arrivals, provide access to territory and asylum to those seeking protection from war and persecution," a spokesperson said.
"It is also important to note that despite a relative period of low boat arrivals Malta continued to assess around 1,600 asylum claims per year.
"One should also point out that the Armed Forces of Malta have continued in their duty to conduct search and rescue operation with a number of people being medically evacuated to Malta.
"UNHCR stands ready to provide support to Malta and the region depending on the requests made by the relevant authorities."
Prime Minister Joseph has since played down concerns telling the newsroom that "the Maltese government is willing to continue engaging with the Italian government at a European and bilateral level as part of a holistic strategy which has seen a drastic reduction in persons travelling through the Central Mediterranean route."
Since 2016, the numbers of irregular migrants arriving in Malta by boat by taking the dangerous and potentially fatal journey across the central Mediterranean corridor between Northern Africa and Southern Europe have dropped significantly.
That is not to say that significantly fewer migrants are embarking on the dangerous crossing, but an agreement between Malta and the previous Italian government meant that boats of migrants who are found to be in difficulty closer to Maltese waters were still rescued by Italian authorities and taken to Italy.
The issue of irregular migration is a particular bone of contention for many Maltese citizens who say fear for their safety when faced with volumes of migrants who come to Malta with no documentation or information of who they are and where they come from.
Many argue that Malta is simply too small and overcrowded to shoulder the burden of caring for irregular migrants, calling for bigger countries with more space and resources to take their fair share of the responsibility.