Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1294561
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 OCTOBER 2020 INTERVIEW pean Commission has commit- ted itself to fighting the human smuggling trade, however; in 2015, for instance, it launched an 'Action Plan Against Migrant Smuggling'. How is your new proposal any different from all the Commission's past efforts in this direction? The main difference is that we are now building up partnerships with third countries. You could say, of course, that: well, we have already reduced smuggling through the central Mediter- ranean route – this has already happened – but we need to do much more on this. That is why we are building these partner- ships to fight human smuggling; and I am doing this, of course, together with the Commissioner for neighbouring countries (in- cluding North Africa). Apart from partnership coun- tries, the success of this Pact also depends on co-operation from other EU member states. In the past, this has not been forthcoming. How do you pro- pose to get the V4 member states to budge on relocation of migrants and asylum seekers from countries like Malta and Italy? I think the proposal I have pre- sented is a balanced proposal. It's a compromise; and so far, I think there has been quite a con- structive approach by all mem- ber states. They are ready to sit down and work on this; but of course there are going to be ne- gotiations, in the Council as well as in the [European] Parliament. I don't think they will say 'Hooray!' to everything; there will naturally be disagreements on certain issues. But I do very much believe that we will have a constructive discussion on this… and I haven't seen the proposal being rejected by any- body yet. The withdrawal of the prob- lematic Dublin regulation is an important step for a frontline country like Malta: but in the absence of a binding reloca- tion agreement, how will the EC ensure that the major conten- tion of Dublin II – i.e., that the application process has to take place in the country that first received the asylum seekers – is addressed? Of course, all member states have to deal with asylum seek- ers coming into their country; but there is a new mechanism in my proposal on how to distrib- ute the applications. If an asylum seeker has connections to anoth- er member state, then it should be that member state which should deal with the application from the outset. But I think the most important part of my proposal is the new mandatory solidarity mecha- nism. In the case of a country like Malta, that is under pressure from the arrival of too many mi- grants for such a small country to handle, this mandatory soli- darity mechanism can help both with relocation, and to facilitate returns. All members states will have to help countries under pressure, like Malta: according to their size, and their economic strength, Stronger, larger countries have to contribute more than smaller countries; and they will have to contribute by participating in the relocation of applicants that are genuinely in need of interna- tional protection; or by return- ing those who have a negative asylum decision. Earlier, you mentioned 'mi- grants who come to contribute to [the European] economy'. How does the EC intend to pro- vide a pathway for migrant workers who have no legal av- enues into Europe – or any right to international protection - but are bundled into mixed flows of human trafficking and illegal routes? There is already the Blue Card Directive [a work permit allow- ing highly skilled non-EU cit- izens to work and live in 25 of the 27 countries within the Eu- ropean Union], which has been on the table for many years now. I hope it can be concluded and adopted by the co-legislation before the end of the year. That would be an important step. But it is not enough. We al- so need low- and medium skill workers; and this is why we are also working on an action plan to create more legal pathways into the European Union, that can be tailor-made to meet the needs of specific countries. I am also proposing a 'Talent and Skills Package', by the beginning of next year, for this kind of legal pathway. Another thing we also need are legal pathways for refugees who already have a good resettlement programme; and I hope that the legislation for that will be adopt- ed by the co-legislator. But on top of that, I am al- so proposing a new commu- nity-sponsored resettlement programme, that could make it possible for regional authori- ties who would like to welcome refugees directly from a refugee camp in a third country. Lastly, the Pact also focuses on the often-excessive duration of the asylum application pro- cess itself. This is an issue that has particularly affected Malta, where the process has been known to take years. How can Brussels improve the asylum determination system? Will the new Pact make it mandatory for member states to deliver faster, fair decisions on asylum? The proposed Qualification Regulation will ensure greater convergence of recognition rates across the EU, guarantee the rights of recognised refugees and discourage unauthorised move- ments within the Union. The reinforced Asylum Agen- cy will be able to provide a rap- id and full service to Member States in normal times as well as in times of challenges, including by carrying out the entire ad- ministrative stage of the asylum procedure if requested, as a con- crete form of European solidar- ity. This comes in addition to the changes proposed in 2016 which are under negotiations in the European Parliament and the Council. These changes aim to streamline the asylum procedure and make it more efficient, al- lowing for swifter procedures to identify those in need of protec- tion and those who are not, and ensure common guarantees for asylum seekers – together with stricter rules to prevent abuse. European solidarity