The EU's soft underbelly? Malta and irregular immigration

Abstract

The rise, since 2002, of irregular migrants arriving on Malta has become a serious challenge for Maltese society and a top policy priority. The chapter traces the evolution of migratory flows from Libya to Malta, analysing the relationship between the deterrence policies of successive Maltese governments in the context of Malta's status as a gatekeeper for the European Union. The chapter concludes that Malta has, to date, received little support for its handling of the migratory influx from fellow member states or the EU as an institution. It is in this light, that the plight of irregular migrants on Malta, accommodated in temporary camps with limited opportunities for work or education, and little prospect of leaving the island, should be seen.