Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri emphasised the need for new and innovative approaches to address the current challenges, while he was attending a MED5 meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, where he met with the Ministers responsible for Home Affairs and Migration of Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Spain.
The Ministers were joined by Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission. The discussions focused on the current situation in the Mediterranean and the external dimension of migration.
The Ministers took stock of the latest migration trends in the Mediterranean, including the sharp increase of arrivals through the Central Mediterranean route and the recent surge of arrivals through the Eastern Mediterranean route, a government statement read.
The Ministers also highlighted the importance of the external dimension, including the need to have strategic partnerships with key third countries of origin and transit based on mutual trust and a whole of route approach.
Minister Byron Camilleri stressed how, despite that Malta remains constantly exposed to migratory pressure due to its size and geographic location, thanks to the efforts made by the Maltese Government in recent years, both on the external and internal dimension, the number of irregular arrivals and asylum seekers has steadily decreased, while the rate of returns has gradually increased. The Minister stressed that there is a clear relationship between the rate of returns of migrants not in need of international protection, and arrival rates.
Minister Camilleri also stressed the importance of increasing their efforts in preventing primary movements towards the Union. The Minister called for viable long-term solutions, based on stronger cooperation with third countries, increased efforts on returns and combating of smuggling networks.
The Ministers of Malta, Italy, Cyprus, Greece and Spain signed a Joint Statement in anticipation of the next Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting to be held on the 19th of October.