[WATCH] Minister Abela visits refugee camp on Lesbos

Home affairs minister Carmelo Abela paid a visit to a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos in an attempt to urge EU member states to step up their efforts in relocating asylum seekers from Italy and Greece.

EU member states in September 2015 agreed to relocate 160,000 people in need of international protection from Italy and Greece by September 2017. However, fewer than 14,000 migrants have been relocated so far. Although Malta hasn’t been impacted by the EU’s refugee crisis, it only agreed to take in 189 such migrants and has relocated 111 of them so far.

During his visit, Abela said that Malta truly believes in the value of European solidarity and that he wants his visit to be an expression of European solidarity with Greece.

“Migration is a common challenge that demands a common, comprehensive approach,” he said. “We will continue working for a comprehensive response, aimed at curbing uncontrolled migration flows while protecting the rights of migrants and refugees in full compliance with the EU and international law. We will strive to make sure that no member state is left alone to shoulder extraordinary migratory pressures. This is Malta’s commitment as part of its EU Presidency, one that will remain so in its role as a member state after June.”

Abela visited the Lesbos camp on behalf of the Maltese Presidency of the EU Council, and was joined by EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, Greek migration minister Ioannis Mouzalas. Abela’s Maltese delegation included Refugee Commissioner Martine Cassar and Malta’s ambassador to Greece Joseph Cuschieri.

On 28 February, Abela and Avramopoulos send a letter to all EU home affairs ministers urging them to improve their relocation efforts and reminding them to respond to the regular calls for the deployment of experts to the hotspots and relevant operations. Abela said that he will remind member states of these two messages at an upcoming Council meeting for home affairs ministers in Brussels.