Mifsud Bonnici holds bilateral talks with Hungarian counterpart

Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici yesterday held bilateral meeting with the Minister of the Interior of Hungary, H.E. Mr. Sandór Pintér, during a short visit to Malta.

8 April 2011, 12:00am

1 min read

Pintér currently presides over the Home Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) since Hungary currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency.

During the meeting the Ministers discussed the latest developments in migration flows towards Malta, particularly those coming from Libya. Minister Pintér was also given further information about Malta’s request to the European Commission to trigger Article 25 of Council Directive 2001/55/EC which provides that Member States shall receive persons of international protection in a spirit of Union solidarity.

The Hungarian Minister was also given a tour of a number of facilities for migrants in Malta, including the Marsa Open Centre and two detention centres where he met the African migrants who arrived in Malta last week. Amongst these, Mr. Pintér also met a number of family members who described to him the considerable difficulties and danger they were facing before fleeing the civil war in Libya a few days ago.

Minister Pintér left Malta in the late afternoon.