The Central Mediterranean route requires a collective effort by all - Minister Michael Farrugia

“The Central Mediterranean route is a very serious situation and requires a collective effort by all member states. In these situations no member state should be left to shoulder this responsibility on its own,” said the Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Michael Farrugia during the informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Tallinn, Estonia.

Minister Farrugia thanked the Commission for the Action Plan issued this week in response to Italy’s migration crisis, and the Estonian Presidency for placing this crucial issue during the meeting’s agenda.

The Minister remarked that many of the measures identified in the Action Plan already fall within the agreement reached by heads of state in the Malta Declaration last February, and what needs to be done is the stepping stone of implementation. The situation in the Central Mediterranean can only be addressed through collective efforts and goodwill from all. This is not a problem of Italy or a few member states but an EU challenge that needs an EU response. Solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility within the European Union is crucial, added Minister Farrugia.

“The EU needs to impart the message that it is also a union of solidarity - it is a message of credibility that needs to be sent to our citizens, as well as to the outside world,” he maintained.

The ministers acknowledged the good work done by the Maltese Presidency on the main principles of the Dublin reform, whilst the Estonian Presidency informed that it would be taking the debate forward on this basis.

In the afternoon session, the issue of interoperability of IT systems (making better use of the different IT systems) and data retention were discussed in joint meetings between the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers. Both issues are a continuation of an extensive discussion that was held during the Maltese Presidency.