10 February 2015
The local representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Jon Hoisaeter has urged Malta to prepare for a potential upsurge in migrant departures from Libya as the situation in that country deteriorates.
Speaking before the Social Affairs Committee, he said the situation in Libya could see Libyans escaping from that country, and not just migrants.
Talks about the evolving scenario were being held at various levels with the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, there was no comprehensive discussion on any contingency plan for the various scenarios which may emerge.
Mr Hoisaeter regretted that different countries were doing different things about migration and there was no unified approach.
He stressed that Malta has to revise its laws to transpose the Reception Conditions Directive by July. Work in this regard was being done by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Malta also needed to amend its laws in line with judgement of the European Court of Human Rights. The Equal Opportunities Ministry was also working on a Comprehensive Integration Policy Framework.
