On the 7^th November 2008, MEUSAC’s Core Group met with the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs to discuss the immigration situation in Malta. This followed an invitation extended by Minister Mifsud Bonnici at the September Core Group meeting which had featured the European Union’s Common Immigration Policy.

Officials from a number of State entities dealing with various aspects of immigration in Malta provided insight on their operations. These included the Police Corps, the Armed Forces of Malta, the Refugees Commissioner, Directors from within the Ministry and the Commander (Detention Services). Other entities shall be involved in a meeting to be set up in the coming days. Discussion centred on the positive exploitation of the situation, and suggestions to establish structures that could cater for the benefit of all.

This was the third meeting open to Core Group members on the issue of migration. Another meeting had been held with the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on the Common Immigration Policy, Dr. Simon Busuttil, which was also open to a number of NGOs in the field.