Dr Roberta Metsola, Member of the European Parliament, today visited the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and held a meeting with Dr Robert K. Visser, EASO’s Executive Director.
During the meeting the two discussed building a stronger relationship between EASO and the European Parliament and the importance of the contributions made by the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, (LIBE) to which Roberta Metsola is a member. The two also discussed the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).
Roberta Metsola reiterated her view that, while certain aspects of the CEAS are clearly in the national interest, the re-cast of the Dublin II Regulation as part of the CEAS is unfair because this still requires asylum-seekers arriving in a Member State to remain the responsibility of that country and, therefore, places a hugely disproportionate burden on Malta.
Roberta Metsola said that the rescue of 300 immigrants off Malta in the last days has shown once again that the pressures on Malta remain acute, but emphasised that politicians have a duty to be responsible and ensure that they do not simply play to the crowds on this emotive topic.
Roberta Metsola congratulated EASO on two years of successful operations in Malta and underlined the central role that EASO plays on a European level. Roberta Metsola recalled the tough negotiations that led to Malta being chosen as the seat of the Agency, saying that Malta never threatened other Member States, but remained firm throughout the negotiations until it managed to convince its partners in the EU that Malta was the ideal place for the Agency to be set up. This is the way to get things done in the EU and shows just how short-sighted and misguided the Prime Minister’s recent saber-rattling and threat to veto actually is.
Roberta Metsola commented that EASO is legally empowered to promote activities related to relocation of beneficiaries of international protection from Member States faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their asylum and reception systems, due in particular to their geographical or demographic situation and it was therefore essential for her to meet with EASO to again stress the need for the Agency to continue efforts when it comes to concrete solidarity and particularly the intra-EU relocation of beneficiaries of international protection from Malta.
For further information:
Janet Barthet
Office of Roberta Metsola MEP
+32 472 519974
