EU's migration assistance to Malta €84.9 million since 2007

Malta has received €84.9 million from the EU's SOLID Funds 2007-2013, European Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said in reply to a question raised by Labour MEP Joseph Cuschieri.

Cuschieri asked the Commission to explain its proposals "to alleviate the plight of Malta" and other countries facing a similar situation and to give details of how "it is prepared to assist the Maltese Islands in dealing with this emerging crisis scenario".

In her reply, Malmström said the European Commission was fully aware of the particular pressures facing Malta's immigration system with the arrival of a high number of migrants on Maltese shores.

"The Commission also recognises that Malta receives the largest number of asylum applicants as a percentage of the population of any Member State within the EU," she said.

For this reason, the Commissioner said, Malta was the focus of the Commission's efforts to assist Member States in dealing with migratory pressures.

In order to enhance the sharing of responsibilities between member states, the European Union has a general programme, known as the 'Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows' (SOLID), which helps with the financial burden that arise from the integrated management of the EU's external borders and the implementation of common asylum and immigration polices.

For the period 2007-2013, a total of €4 billion were allocated, of which €84.9 million were given to Malta.

"Under the SOLID fund, Malta can make immediate requests to the Commission for additional financial assistance in order to respond to the emergency situation," Malmström told Cuschieri.

She reminded that the Commission has made a plea to other Member States to assist Malta in dealing with the inflow, via the relocation of beneficiaries of international protection from Malta to other Member States.

"Relocation is one of the most tangible acts of solidarity available to Member States. EU relocation efforts have so far allowed around 690 persons who have applied for asylum in Malta since 2005 to be relocated elsewhere," she said.

The most recent relocation from Malta took place on 16 July.

Meanwhile, member states will be convened on 25 September at a relocation forum to discuss relocation issues.