Here's What's Happening In Malta This Week: MED5 Meeting This Saturday

Following an agreement at the latest summit in Italy, Malta has been chosen to host the next MED5 meeting which is taking place this Saturday!

The MED5 is a grouping of the five EU Mediterranean countries: Malta, Italy, Greece, Spain and Cyprus.

They cooperate at ministerial level, specifically in areas of home affairs and migration, to address common challenges around migration, border management, returns, and asylum-policy.

This weekend’s meeting has a packed agenda which is expected to facilitate numerous key outcomes.

Some topics which will will be covered are the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, strengthening cooperation with third-countries in areas of origin & transit, returns management, and border protection measures.

The meeting is also a vital opportunity for Malta to highlight recent improvements achieved within the sector, such as a decrease in irregular arrivals which lessened by 93% when compared to five years ago. Along with this, the island has also seen an increase in returns and investment in national border and migration authority resources.

Following the MED5 meeting, some developments are expected.

These include a joint statement from the five countries reaffirming their shared goals on migration governance and calls for increased EU funding and flexible instruments in relation to migration and asylum management among frontline states, specifically in areas of prevention, returns, and solidarity.

Additionally an emphasis is expected to be made on the “external dimension” of migration, like greater cooperation with countries of origin and transit to prevent irregular flows and improve returns, and a possible launch or reinforcement of practical initiatives such as “return hubs” in third countries for failed asylum seekers.

#MaltaDaily