The Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Employment, Byron Camilleri, attended the Council meeting of Home Affairs Ministers in Brussels on Monday, 8 December 2025. The meeting focused on migration and Schengen related matters, a ministry statement said Tuesday.
The Minister highlighted that the Council's deliberations built on the constructive dialogue advanced at the MED5 Ministerial Meeting held in Malta last week.
After weeks of negotiations, the Council has reached an agreement on the creation of the first annual solidarity pool for 2026. Through this mechanism, Member States identified as being under migratory pressure will receive support, either via relocations or financial contributions.
Minister Camilleri recalled that Malta faced a migration crisis for several years as irregular arrivals surged, repeatedly calling for solidarity from its European partners. Today, the situation is different. Through significant investment in prevention and return measures, the Government has managed to successfully reverse the trend and address the challenges linked to irregular migration. This progress is clear: Malta is no longer classified as a Member State under migratory pressure.
The Minister underscored that, despite Malta's current position, the country remains committed to supporting Member States, particularly fellow MED5 countries, in times of need. The Minister stated that Despite Malta's success in combatting irregular migration during the past few years with focus on prevention, combatting smugglers and returns, our geographic position means that we remain perpetually exposed to the risk of once again facing such a situation in the future. Emphasizing that solidarity is not a choice, but a cornerstone of the European Union, Minister Camilleri reaffirmed Malta's determination to defend this principle. Without solidarity, the Minister stressed, an effective Pact on Migration and Asylum cannot be achieved.
During the meeting, the Council also endorsed the Commission's Proposal for a Return Regulation, first presented in March. Minister Camilleri welcomed the progress achieved on this legislative file, noting that the Regulation will serve as a vital instrument to make Europe's return system more efficient, credible, and fair.
The Minister stressed that an effective and well-functioning return system is the cornerstone of a robust migration policy. In this context, he reiterated Malta's success in recent years in reducing irregular migration, thanks to increased investment in national authorities, the creation of a dedicated returns unit, and enhanced engagement with key third countries of transit and origin. These efforts have yielded tangible results: a 93% decrease in irregular arrivals compared to 2019, and a returns-to-arrivals ratio of 78% in 2025.
Minister Camilleri stressed the need to reinforce the Schengen area by strengthening existing tools and adopting innovative approaches to prevent irregular migration and security threats. He called for an EU visa policy that is transparent, rigorously monitored, and fully aligned with broader migration and security objectives.
The Minister also highlighted the critical importance of deepening cooperation with third countries, noting how only through strategic and comprehensive partnerships along migration routes can we effectively dismantle smuggling networks and significantly reduce irregular arrivals.
Minister Camilleri concluded by calling for vigilance against emerging threats and readiness for future challenges. He emphasized the need for collective action and the full use of existing instruments, such as the Schengen Information System, to close security gaps and build a truly resilient border management system.