On Wednesday 72 immigrants of various nationalities who arrived irregularly in Malta were deported. The relocation took place as part of the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism, established in June 2022 for a period of one year, intended to reduce the burden of irregular immigration from border countries.
The immigrants left Malta through a flight to other EU member states where they will be able to continue with the process linked to their request for international protection.
The Minister for the Interior, Security, Reforms and Equality, Byron Camilleri reminded how relocation is the most effective means by which other European countries and the European Union can reduce the burden of irregular immigration from the border countries, especially in the case of Malta due to its size and geographical position. Through its strategy of prevention, return and relocation, in the first half of 2023 Malta managed to reduce arrivals and return and relocate the same amount of immigrants as arrived since the beginning of the year.
“This while the Government is continuing to work fully on prevention, including in cooperation with Libya, in order to reduce the possibility of deaths and subsequently it has led to a considerable reduction of irregular arrivals, and the return of persons who they do not require protection in Malta. This work is being reflected in the figures of the last two years where the numbers of irregular immigrants who have been returned to their country has increased while the number of arrivals has decreased substantially,” concluded Minister Camilleri.
The preparations for the relocation involved the assistance of many entities within the Ministry for the Interior, Security, Reforms and Equality, as well as the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and the Union Agency European Asylum (EUAA). The relocation is co-financed by the European Union, including under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
