Most EU member states have not been forthcoming in solidarity with Malta, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia told an informal Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting.

The minister said that mechanisms for the voluntary and coordinated sharing of responsibility between member states be further analysed and developed within the context of creating a Common European Asylum System.

Dr Mallia said that the meaning of solidarity was forgotten especially with countries such as Malta which easily reached saturation point when arrivals of irregular migrants picked up a steady pace each year.

Although the Commission launched two relocation projects for Malta, their effect was limited as most member states had not been forthcoming with solidarity.

“They have hidden behind the voluntariness aspect and have forgotten that these beneficiaries of international protection have not voluntarily left their country and not voluntarily risked their lives on land and on the sea to reach Europe.”

Dr Manuel Mallia said that although the European Council conclusions adopted in December called for the mobilisation of all efforts for the implementation of recommendations within a clear timeframe, “a month has passed and we have no timeframe indicated as yet”. Dr Mallia asked if the Commission could say what steps it envisaged next.

He said the EU had to consider assistance to the main countries of origin and transit of illegal immigration into the EU and involve itself more with these countries.

Emphasis, he said, should be placed on the implementation of the principle of conditionality with cooperation in various fields in countries of origin depending on cooperation in the area of return policy.

Efforts should also be made to ensure that the readmission obligations of third countries were respected.

He said that beneficiaries of international protection should be able to move freely in the EU, and consideration should be given to the mutual recognition of decisions granting international protection.