LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, has announced that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is working on a legal framework aimed at ensuring that only individuals “who deserve asylum” are permitted to remain in the European Union.
Abela’s statement came amid mounting criticism of his commitment to reforming the European Convention on Human Rights, which is a key issue as Malta prepares to assume the presidency of the Council of Europe from May to September. Despite the backlash, Abela insisted that Malta will continue to champion human rights but emphasized that these rights should be granted only when they are “merited”.
In response to questions about the rights of unsuccessful asylum seekers, Abela questioned whether Maltese and Gozitans also do not have rights, and argued that the European Union should have the authority to decide who is allowed to enter its territory. “If you do not deserve asylum, you should be returned to your country,” he stated. Abela also pointed out that international law often complicates the repatriation of failed asylum seekers, particularly those who have committed crimes. While stressing that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and humanity, Abela clarified that the right to remain in a country is not automatic.
He further revealed that several EU member states, including Denmark, Italy, Cyprus, and Greece, share Malta’s position on the need for reforms to make it easier to deport unsuccessful asylum seekers. Official figures show that Malta granted 33,455 residence permits in 2024, driven by a surge in demand for skilled labour. In 2023, foreign nationals made up 28.1% of Malta’s population, with the number of foreigners increasing by 15.3% in just one year, while the Maltese population grew by only 0.1%.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
