Linking Malta with its Diaspora Dr Raymond C. XERRI Director Directorate-General Political, EU Affairs and Maltese Abroad Ministry for Foreign Affairs MALTA
Agenda -The Maltese Islands -Malta s Diaspora world-wide. -Malta Diaspora Facts and Figures. -Maltese Diaspora Communities <1000. -Categories of Maltese Diaspora. -Maltese Diaspora Historic Milestones. -Implementation of Act XX of 2011. -The legal and functionality of the Council and Directorate for Maltese Living Aboard. -The main tasks of the Directorate. -The main tasks of the Directorate (cont.). -The evoluting European Diaspora Policy.
The Maltese Islands Malta is an archipelago of five islands, with a combined area slightly larger than the City of Riga with a local population of 425,000 classifying the islands one of the most densely populated countries in the world with 1,346 persons per kilometer. Tourism, financial and commercial services along with a list of minor sectors place the Maltese economy as one of the most open and diversified in Europe. Tourist arrivals alone reach 1.6 million annually, nearly four times Malta s domestic population. Malta joined the European Union in 2004, is in fact the smallest Member State and is one of the eight Council of Europe countries which has a larger Diaspora than its domestic population. Malta is an active country on the international scene. In November, Malta will be hosting for the second time the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM); like Latvia, Malta will be holding the EU Presidency for the first time in the first half of 2017 and the following year, Valletta, the capital of Malta will be the European Capital of Culture.
Malta s Diaspora world-wide Malta s Diaspora can be divided into five distinct sections: Permanent,Temporary, Missionary and Voluntary, Offshore and Tourism Diapsora. The Permanent Diaspora is found in Australia, Canada, France, Greece, Spain, the United States and United Kingdom. The Temporary Diaspora can be found primarily in mainland Europe for work and study purposes. Missionary and Voluntary Diaspora are found in 173 countries. Offshore Diaspora is found on oil/gas rigs the Mediterranean, North Sea, and French territorial waters around the globe. Diaspora Tourism is mainly to Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and the United States. Short-term travel of less than one month is not classified as Diaspora even though one always remains a Maltese citizens living outside Maltese territory. Benchmarks of periods of stay differ from country to country. Official statistics derived from national censuses of the various countries where Maltese Diaspora can be found, indicates that Malta s Diaspora counts just over 450,000.
Malta s Diaspora in Figures 180 000 160 000 140 000 120 000 100 000 80 000 60 000 40 000 20 000 0 170,000 90 000 70 000 45 000 Australia United States Canada United Kingdom Sourses: Australian, US, UK and Greek Censuses of 2011 and Canadian Census of 2012. Main Maltese Diaspora Communities 3 500 Greece (Corfu) 5
Maltese Diaspora Communities <1000 Denmark Luxembourg The Netherlands Turkey Spain South Africa Germany France Belgium Italy United Arab Emirates Maltese Diaspora Communities <1000 Sources: PQ 15714 of 15 March 2010, Citizienship a nd Passports (NSO and De la Rue) 2013 and Notification D Forms 2013-14. 0 200 400 600 800 1000 6
Categories of Maltese Diaspora Permanent Diaspora Temporary Diaspora Missionary & Voluntary Diaspora Tourism Diaspora Offshore Diaspora 4% 1%0% 3% Sources: Censuses of various countries, the Malta and Gozo Curie, UOM, NSO and various oil/gas companies. 92% 7
Maltese Disapora Historic milestones Diaspora episodes were first recorded in various notarial deeds in both Malta and Gozo as early as the thirthieth century. The ninetieth and early twentieth century saw the first recorded mass migration in 1860s, 1890s, 1920s to Mediterranean countries of Algeria, Egypt, Greece, Morocco and Tunisia to accompany missionaries and after the world wars migration shifted to the Australian continent, Canada, France, Libya, the United Kingdom and the United States primarily to work in the sugar cane industry, mining and working on British projects through the empire. The 1950s saw the largest wave of Maltese migration which pushed Diaspora issues to the forefront of the national agenda towards the mid-1960s. 1969 The Malta Emigrants Commission (MEC) organised the first Convention for the Maltese Living Abroad. 1989 The Maltese Government introduces the concept of dual citizenship in its Constitution. 2000 MEC organised the second Convention and in 2010 along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) organised the third Convention. Maltese Parliament agreed to remove restrictions on holding more than one citizenship.
Implementation of Act XX of 2011 2011 - Act XX establishing the Council for the Maltese Living Abroad (CMLA) and the Directorate for the Maltese Living Abroad (DMLA) was passed through Parliament and signed by the President of the Republic. The Prime Minister appoints fifteen CMLA Councillors and the Minister for Foreign Affairs appoints a Secretary to the CMLA. 2012 The first convening in Malta of the CMLA and the Public Service Commission appoints the first Director for the Directorate for Maltese Living Abroad. 2013 - In January the first Director for DMLA commences work and in May started to form part of the Directorate-General Political, EU Affairs and Maltese Abroad with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The first CMLA videoconference were organised in February. The second to the fourth CMLA Meetings were organised. 2014 - The fifth CMLA Meeting in Malta was organised in October. 2015 - The IV Convention for Maltese Living Abroad and the sixth CMLA Meeting was organised just two weeks ago.
The legal and functionality of the CMLA and DMLA The legal basis for the establishment of the Council and the Directorate for Maltese Living Abroad is found in Act XX of 2011 of which you have a copy. Although both the Office of Secretary of the CMLA and Office of the DMLA are found in the same MFA building, a certain level of autonomy is maintained between the Secretary CMLA and the Director, DMLA. The Director only communicates with the CMLA through the Secretary of the Council. Article 3 (1-3) of Act XX of 2011 states that, The Council shall be the body representing Maltese communities abroad before all Malta government entitites including the public service and any public authority, institution or organisation responsible for implementing policies affecting these communites. Article 8 (3) of Act XX of 2011 states that, The Directorate shall be responsible to ensure the implementation of this Act. Although it is one small sentence but it places the administrative responsibility squarely onto the Director, DMLA. Political responsibility is always carried by the MFA Minister of the day, ex officio who is CMLA Chairperson.
Main tasks of the Directorate The Directorate is responsible for implementing the proposals of the CMLA Councillors which have been approved by the Chairperson. Regular consultations and meetings with CMLA Secretary. Assist the Secretary of the CMLA to organise the CMLA Annual Convenings in Malta and videoconferences. Inform the Secretary of the CMLA with relevant information pertinent for CMLA Councillors to act, consult and propose on measures that promote and protect the rights and interest of Maltese living abroad. Act as a central focal point for information, advice and co-ordination to Maltese living abroad and assist any stakeholder. -Consultation with Stakeholders: (1) MFA Director-Generals and Directorates; (2) Cross Government; (3) Diaspora-related; (4) peripheral; (5) diplomatic and (6) external such as organisations like the European Throughout The World (ETTW).
Main tasks of the Directorate (cont.) -Cater for the different enquires of the five categories of Maltese Diaspora: (1) Permanent; (2) Temporary; (3) Short-term fixed; (4) Missionary and volunteers; (5) Off-shore workers. -Promote and manage Notification D Form Voluntary Registration for Maltese Living Abroad, Form O Registration of Diaspora Organisations and Form P Registration of Prominent Maltese Living Abroad. -Research, write and analyse information to compile Diaspora Chapters on all countries briefs where Malta s Diaspora is present. -Compilation of Statistics of Diaspora communities. -Assist in the organisation of visits of Diaspora groups visiting Malta. -Lecturing and assistance in Diaspora Affairs research for students who are studying this growing area. - Lead preparation for the organisation of Diaspora Conventions.
An evolving European Diaspora Policy The Directorate participates in meetings, seminars and conferences on a European and international level related to the formulation of a European Diaspora Policy. The Director represents the CMLA on the ETTW Governing Board where I have represented Malta and have occupied the post of Vice-President of ETTW for the past two and a half years. The Directorate is following closely developments related to the evolving European Diaspora Policy. This Conference is the a milestone in European Diaspora history and marks the beginning of a comprehensive European Diaspora Policy. This Riga Conference is a historic convening for Europe since the European continent is one of the last regional blocks in the world which had so far not given Diaspora Affairs its due importance. Malta looks forward to working closely with all Member States and participating in the evolution of a European Diaspora Policy in the years to come. This is also in light that Malta will hold the EU Presidency for the very first time during the first half of 2017.
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS PALAZZO PARISIO, VALLETTA, MALTA Thank You Contact details: Dr Raymond C. XERRI Director - Directorate for Maltese Living Abroad Directorate-General Political, EU Affairs and Maltese Abroad Ministry for Foreign Affairs Palazzo Parisio, Merchant Street, Valletta VLT MALTA : +356 2204 2208 / 2204 2371 / 2204 2264 : +356 7940 1216 : +356 2204 2387 : raymond.c.xerri@gov.mt / malteselivingabroad.mfa@gov.mt / convention2015.mfa@gov.mt : www.foreign.gov.mt