Schengen suspension lifted as Malta ‘not under terror threat’

The Schengen rules have been reinstated for passengers travelling to and from Malta, the home affairs ministry announced.

Schengen was temporarily suspended in November ahead of the migration and Commonwealth summits, but the government later decided to extend the suspension as a precautionary safety measure. 

The government’s decision means that passport controls from other Schengen countries will no longer be imposed on passengers departing from and arriving in Malta via both the airport and the Valletta passenger terminal.

In a statement, the government said that its decision stemmed from the fact that no terrorist threats have ever been made against Malta.

“Several European cities were recently on high alert due to a fear of terror attacks during the New Year celebrations,” the ministry said. “Malta was never under threat, which is why the government is in a position to announce that the Schengen suspension has been lifted.

Increased checks and controls at the borders and the suspension of Schengen rules in Malta and Italy led to renewed passport controls. This in turn uncovered “a racket” whereby migrants bearing false passports would attempt to cross over, seeking asylum or work on the island. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the government extended the Schengen suspension to get to the bottom of this racket, while repeatedly insisting that Malta didn’t face any terrorist threat.  

“While the government has no information that Malta is in some sort of risk, we should never let our guard down and assume that nothing could ever happen to us,” he said. “Like we want to keep the country safe for Queen Elizabeth, we want to keep it safe for our citizens.”

The decision was criticised by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, who claimed that it was curtailing people’s rights to travel freely in Europe.

“We are ready to agree with the suspension, but only if government explains why this is necessary,” he said. “Increased security comes at a price: our freedom. If there are no risks, then why suspend Schengen indefinitely?”