Malta will strive to achieve a politically acceptable common approach on migration that can withstand future challenges, during its Presidency – Minister Carmelo Abela 

Malta will serve as an “honest broker” as it strives to achieve a politically acceptable common approach on migration that can withstand future challenges, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said today.

He was addressing a joint press conference with Austrian Interior Minister Wolfang Sobotka, who is currently on his first visit to Malta.

Mr Abela said it will be difficult to reach consensus between all member states on the Dublin treaty reform. He explained how the Maltese Presidency of the Council of EU will try to make progress on the various aspects of migration and asylum with the point of departure being the progress that would have been achieved by the current Slovak Presidency.

“Malta has to try and make progress on most of the 7 presented legislations and try and bring a consensus on difficult areas, especially the Dublin reform,” he said.

 “In the coming six months, we are not only going to discuss for a current solution which is needed, but will also discuss how to approach the issue of migration in the future. We need a system that ensures that in time of crisis it will be effective and authentic solidarity will kick in efficiently, and where responsibility is shared fairly between all member states”, Mr Abela added. 

 Mr Sobotka applauded  Malta’s preparation for its incoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, noting that the Valletta Summit of 2015 has already showed that this was the case.  He said Austria supported the proposals presented by Malta in these areas. “We are optimistic that Malta will again master the role of keeping this very difficult group of nations together.”

He added that “Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the EU is very important for Austria as the legislations presented by the Commission are really crucial for shaping the future of migration. Austria has a great interest in this area seeing as in 2015 and 2016 we were affected by migratory flows both from the Mediterranean and the Balkans. We think that the EU needs a common approach to be able to master the challenges of migration”.