Minister calls for stronger European response to irregular migration at Munich Migration Meeting

The Minister for Home Affairs and Security, Glenn Bedingfield, attended the Munich Migration Meeting which took place on 26 September 2026, where he advocated for a stronger European response to irregular migration. He stressed that the success of the EU Pact depends on its implementation and concrete results rather than by legislation. According to a government press release, the minister highlighted “Malta's balanced migration policy, which has contributed to a 93% reduction in irregular arrivals since 2019 and has enabled Malta to achieve one of the highest return rates of irregular arrivals in Europe, with the equivalent of 70% of irregular arrivals in 2025 having been returned so far in 2026”.

The minister emphasised the need for effective return policies and called for targeted improvement to the Pact, including streamlined procedures, stronger tools to deal with crises and measures to prevent misuse of the asylum system. He also expressed Malta’s support for the new Return Regulation, the strengthened operational role of Frontex and the creation of return hubs, while calling for stronger cooperation with third countries through the EU’s external policy instruments and supporting the establishment of a European emergency response framework for border management.