VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield said the success of the EU’s Migration and Asylum Pact will depend on effective implementation and fair burden-sharing among member states.
Speaking following an informal meeting of EU ministers in Cyprus marking the pact’s entry into force, Bedingfield stressed that frontline countries such as Malta must receive meaningful support.
First adopted in 2024, the pact introduces a major reform of the EU’s migration and asylum system through 10 legislative measures aimed at strengthening external borders and harmonising procedures.
The framework includes mandatory screening for irregular arrivals, faster border procedures and a solidarity mechanism allowing member states to contribute through relocations, financial support or operational assistance.
Bedingfield said migration management must be reinforced by stronger EU external action, effective returns and tougher measures against smuggling networks amid growing geopolitical instability and changing migration routes.
He also called for greater investment in countries of origin to address poverty, climate change and limited economic opportunities, describing such efforts as a long-term investment in stability and shared security.
“The most effective migration policy is not only about stronger borders, but also about stronger opportunities,” he said.
The pact, which entered into application on 12 June, is expected to provide greater support for frontline states, according to Maltese MEPs David Casa and Alex Agius Saliba.
However, both Bedingfield and Agius Saliba said its effectiveness would depend on credible implementation, particularly on improving returns, which remain a longstanding challenge for the EU.
Human rights groups have criticised the reforms, warning that they could weaken asylum safeguards and increase the risk of detention and accelerated procedures for migrants.
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