Answer given by Ms Johansson on behalf of the European Commission

17.8.2020

The Commission acknowledges the specific situation of Malta, in particular the pressure that it has been experiencing on an already stretched reception system, due to an increase in arrivals and in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic .

At the same time, the Commission has repeatedly stressed that it expects all Member States to respect fundamental rights obligations, comply with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights provisions, all relevant European and international law and to act in a coordinated way with all actors involved, including the relevant EU Agencies, to prevent loss of life at sea.

The implementation of search and rescue is the responsibility of national authorities. The Commission has no competence to coordinate search and rescue operations or to indicate places for disembarkation.

The Commission has repeatedly called for people on board vessels to be disembarked and granted access to the asylum procedure for persons wishing to apply for international protection.

The Commission will continue to do its utmost to provide financial and operational support to the Member States most affected by migration flows .

As part of these efforts, the Commission is encouraging Member States to participate in voluntary relocations with a view to showing tangible solidarity with the Member States of disembarkation . The Commission also held technical meetings in order to help alleviate the pressure in the Maltese reception system, by advancing and coordinating the voluntary relocation and return processes.

The Commission is in the final phase of defining how the specificities of search and rescue realities can be best reflected in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.