PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND SECURITY Minister Glenn Bedingfield reaffirms Malta’s strong partnership with the EUAA

Minister for Home Affairs and Security Glenn Bedingfield today visited the headquarters of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), where he met with Executive Director Nina Gregori and the Agency's senior management team.

The meeting focused on the strong partnership between Malta and the EUAA, ongoing cooperation in the field of asylum, and the implementation of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Minister Bedingfield thanked the Agency for its continued support to Malta over the years, describing the EUAA as a trusted partner that has played an important role in strengthening the country's asylum system.

"Malta highly values its longstanding partnership with the EUAA. Through close cooperation, we have built a migration and asylum system that is more efficient, more resilient and better prepared to respond to future challenges," the Minister said.

The Minister welcomed the Agency's continued operational and technical assistance, particularly in supporting relocation, interpretation services, capacity building and training.

He noted the significant progress achieved in recent years, including a significant reduction in irregular arrivals, down by 93% when compared to 2019, and a substantial decrease in the backlog of asylum applications.

"These results show that balanced, fair and consistent migration policies deliver results. While we remain vigilant given Malta's geographical realities, we are committed to continuing to strengthen our systems in line with our national interests and our European obligations," Minister Bedingfield added.

Discussions also focused on the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, with Minister Bedingfield reaffirming Malta's commitment to working closely with the EUAA in implementing the new European framework. 

The Minister welcomed the inauguration of the EUAA Academy in Malta and noted how this will help in further developing specialised expertise in asylum and reception management, describing professional training as essential to building stronger institutions across Europe.