Since 2010, 2,055 irregular migrants and asylum seekers were relocated to other EU countries or associated states, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said.

He was responding to a Parliamentary Question posed by PN MP Joseph Ellis.

In 2021 thus far, 234 were relocated.

The minister provided details of the relocation programmes financed by the EU provided to Malta over the years. The Pilot Project for Intra-EU re-allocation from Malta I ran between January 2010 and end August 2011, costing €1,397,653 (€1,107,379 of which was co-financed by the EU). The Pilot Project for Intra-EU re-allocation from Malta II ran between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013, costing €149,200 (€134,280 of which was co-financed by EU funds). The Voluntary Relocation from Malta to EU Member States and Associated States (REMA) ran between July 2019 and ends in December 2021 (and is expected to be extended). €1,060,000 was spent (although this number is not conclusive), €950,000 of which is co-financed by the EU.

In a separate Parliamentary question also asked by Ellis, the minister said that the number of irregular migrants returned to their country of origin between January and October this year amounted to 361, which includes 36 who returned voluntarily.

The travel expenses for the repatriations totalled €359,899, 75% of which was financed by the EU.

"There were instances where the EU also provided support in the form of liaison officers, particularly in countries where Malta does not have diplomatic representation."