European Union Foreign and Home Affairs Minister held a joint informal meeting to discuss the external dimension of migration.
The meeting focused primarily on two issues; enhanced cooperation with third countries and return and readmission, particularly how these two elements can form part of bilateral discussions with third countries and how Member States can improve their coordination and cooperation.
In his intervention, Foreign and European Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo held that there is no room for complacency because while arrivals of irregular migrants is at its lowest for the European Union as a whole, it has been at its highest in the Central Mediterranean in the last three years. The numbers are not higher because the Libyan Coast Guard has intercepted some 3,200 irregular migrants in the first two months alone. This shows how fragile and vulnerable the EU’s borders are in the Central Mediterranean.
Minister Bartolo remarked that if the EU MS and all its institutions do not speak with the same voice, the EU would fail to deliver yet again on this issue. He reiterated his call for a “tailor-made approach based on positive incentives and on the needs of our partners” by aligning different policies such as development cooperation, visa and trade. Furthermore, he stated that human trafficking should be attacked, in conjunction with investment in various projects in third countries to provide alternative economic opportunities.
MinisterBartolo also highlighted Malta’s work with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development to establish a training centre for migration management for Southern Mediterranean countries. This centre would be providing training for migration professionals operating in this field in various Member States.
He concluded by stressing the need to ensure stability in Libya, following the formation of a government of national unity.
The meeting was also addressed by the Minister for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement Byron Camilleri who called for stronger EU engagement in transit countries, including Libya. The Minister highlighted the importance of providing more support to Libya to manage its land and maritime borders, as well as measures to reduce the pressure on migrants’ centres in the country.
Minister Camilleri called for flexible funding mechanisms that would also include specific regional funds. He stressed the importance of avoiding gaps between one funding programme and the next to avoid adverse effect on the efforts the EU is undertaking in this area.
While calling for more tangible results on the external dimension, Minister Camilleri highlighted the importance of greater collaboration between Member States. In this context, Minister Camilleri reiterated the importance of strong cooperation between those Member States who have diplomatic presence in third countries, and those who do not, arguing that the latter’s interests should also be considered, so that coherent messages are communicated and tangible actions are taken.
