MaltaMedia.com

Malta has won the right to host the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) after this was decided at a meeting for EU Justice Ministers at which Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici was also present.

Malta was one of three countries vying to host this office. The other two countries were Cyprus and Bulgaria. The Maltese government had been lobbying for months for this asylum office to be hosted in Malta.

The aim of the asylum office is to facilitate the exchange of information, analysis and experience among EU Member States and to develop cooperation between administrations in charge of examining asylum applications.

The asylum office will have an estimated start-up budget for 2010 of over €6,250,000, while the total estimated budget for the 2010-2013 period will amounts to almost €44 million. The office will also employ up to a maximum of 94 employees.

The Prime Minister described the EASO decision as a major achievement for Malta: “Thanks to all those who were involved in promoting and negotiating Malta’s case. This is undoubtedly another remarkable achievment in Malta’s short history as a European Union Member State. Our efforts however must not stop here. It is now important to look ahead to setting up the Asylum Office in the shortest time possible so that it can start carrying out its functions which are of utmost importance to the country and the EU as a whole.” The Prime Minister added that the Government of Malta will provide full institutional support for the work of the European Asylum Support Office.

It is expected that the Heads of State and Heads of Government will ratify this decision during the upcoming European Council to be held on the 10 and 11 December 2009, and which will be attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.