Situated on the main maritime roads of illegal migration across the Mediterranean, Malta is faced today with the arrival of more and more illegal migrants coming from the poorest regions of Africa. Totally snowed under the strenght of this process, moreover very much in demand by european institutions in order to fight against irregular immigration within Schengen limits, maltese authorities have implemented a policy of systematic detention for all immigrants entering maltese territory without any titles. Malta is thus showed by numerous organizations defending human rights which denounce conditions of detention absolutely iniquitous and unacceptable in Europe. Malta immigration case is just an illustration of the results of increasing contrasts of developpement levels and, above all, of the incoherence of european policy which tends to externalize the boarding control towards regions of the periphery of Europe which have no experience and no means for that.

Illegal immigration Malta Mediterranean European Union

policy approach Eurasia Africa Malta snow cover Europe illegal immigrant human rights Southern Europe Mediterranean environment migration