EU’s ‘Return Hubs’: Malta’s Migration Future in the Balance

Imagine standing at the edge of Marsaxlokk’s bustling fishing village, the scent of fresh fish and sea salt filling the air. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over the traditional Luzzu boats gently bobbing in the harbour. Now, picture this idyllic scene being disrupted, not by the cry of seagulls, but by the arrival of hundreds of migrants, seeking refuge on our shores. This is not a dystopian fantasy, but a reality that Malta has been grappling with for years.

The European Union is set to greenlight a controversial migration reform that could significantly change the way Malta, and Europe as a whole, handles migration. The reform, known as ‘return hubs’, aims to create processing centres in third countries to speed up the return of irregular migrants. But what does this mean for Malta, a small island nation that has long been on the frontline of Europe’s migration crisis?

Malta, with its strategic location in the Mediterranean, has always been a crossroads of cultures and peoples. But in recent years, it has also become a crossroads for migrants seeking a better life in Europe. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, Malta received over 3,000 asylum seekers in 2020 alone. The tiny island nation, with a population of just over 500,000, has been struggling to cope with the influx.

In 2019, Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela famously stated, “Malta is not a country where you can just land and stay.” The ‘return hubs’ reform could give teeth to this statement, providing a legal framework for the swift return of irregular migrants.

The ‘return hubs’ proposal, spearheaded by the European Commission, envisions the creation of processing centres in countries outside the EU, such as Algeria, Morocco, or Tunisia. Migrants intercepted at sea would be taken to these hubs, where their asylum claims would be processed, and those found to be irregular would be promptly returned to their countries of origin.

Proponents argue that this system would deter irregular migration, ease the burden on frontline states like Malta, and speed up the return of those with no right to stay in Europe. Critics, however, warn that it could lead to a ‘Fortress Europe’, outsourcing the EU’s migration problem to third countries, and potentially violating international law.

Malta’s Minister for Home Affairs, National Security and Immigration, Byron Camilleri, has been vocal in his support of the reform. “Malta welcomes this proposal as it addresses the root cause of the problem,” he told Hot Malta. “We cannot continue to be the only country in Europe bearing the brunt of this crisis.”

The ‘return hubs’ reform, if approved, will bring significant changes to Malta’s migration scene. But is the island nation ready for these changes? The government has been investing in its migration management infrastructure, with plans to expand the Hal Far open centre and build a new migrant reception centre in Marsa. However, NGOs working with migrants warn that these facilities are already overstretched and under-resourced.

“We need to ensure that any new system is fair, humane, and respects the rights of migrants,” says Maria Pisani, director of the Malta Emigrants Commission. “We cannot sacrifice our values at the altar of efficiency.”

The EU’s ‘return hubs’ reform is set to come into effect in 2023. As Malta prepares to welcome another tourist season, it must also prepare for the potential influx of migrants that the new system could bring. The future of Malta’s migration policy hangs in the balance, and with it, the future of the island’s role in Europe’s migration crisis.