Volt MEP Boeselager visits detention centre, local party branch

The German MEP’s stay in Malta started with a visit to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) which he says he cares very much about as he also negotiated their mandate.

Boeselager met Nina Gregori, the executive director of the EUAA, which whom he has worked from the beginning of developing the new mandate of the agency.

Inspecting the migrant detention centre in Hal Safi and the open center at Hal Far, the MEP pointed out that the camps are “quite empty”.

Damian Boeselager questioned why Malta carries out so few rescue operations at the moment, even though migrant arrivals in Italy are increasing, adding that many of the boats must pass through Malta’s SAR area.

The Volt MEP said Malta’s migrant detention centre “definitely needs more common areas and activities”.

He said the most relevant questions to him were whether the grounds for people to be detained were justified, and whether NGO’s claims were true that lawyers don’t have access – something that has been disputed by the camp’s management.

Townhall meeting with Volt Malta

On Tuesday evening, MEP Damian Boeselager participated in a townhall meeting with the local branch of the pan-european party he co-founded in 2017.

The talks mostly revolved around Malta’s particular political environment and electoral system with two dominant parties leaving little to no space for third parties to succeed.

Boeselager also gave insights in his work at European Parliament and explained the process of lawmaking involving parliament, the European Commission and the governments of the 27 member states.

The MEP said he will meet several Maltese ministers for talks on Wednesday.