Maltese Foreign Minister Tonio Borg paid a short visit on July 22 to Budapest, where he met the head of Hungarian diplomacy Péter Balázs. Mr Borg requested Hungary’s help in hosting a new European Union agency, the European Asylum Support Office. Illegal immigration has become one of the most crucial political, social and economic challenges for the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean but especially for Malta.

The European Asylum Support Office is to be established in 2009 under the Swedish EU Presidency. Its creation was sealed by the European Council in October 2008 along with the endorsement of the European Asylum and Migration Pact.

The establishment of the Office figures in the political plans of the European Commission, too, in the so-called asylum package. This sets the goal of harmonising asylum regulations of Member States by 2010, and stipulates effective cooperation, solidarity and sharing responsibility of the Member States and third countries situated along the EU borders. Close cooperation with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and other asylum organisations is envisaged for the European Asylum Support Office in fulfilling its role. The budget for setting up the Office will be covered by the European Refugee Fund.

On the basis of the European Asylum and Migration Pact the European Commission presented the draft regulation concerning the Office on February 18. Malta requested Hungary’s support in obtaining the headquarters.

FM Balázs confirmed that Hungary agrees with the establishment of the European Asylum Support Office and will examine the possibility of supporting the Maltese bid.

(July 22, 2009)