Auditors push for accountability as Malta's migration policies face scrutiny

European public auditors meeting in Malta have examined how migration policies can support labour markets and demographic needs while strengthening integration and social cohesion.

The National Audit Office hosted the seminar on 10 and 11 November, bringing together 35 participants from 11 supreme audit institutions and two EU institutions.

Held under the theme “Migration as an Opportunity: Supporting Europe’s Economic and Demographic Future”, the meeting formed part of cooperation between EU audit institutions and the European Court of Auditors.

Auditor General Charles Deguara emphasised the importance of assessing policies against evidence. Where programmes deliver results, auditors should acknowledge that performance; where they fall short, their role includes recommending practical improvements.

Academic Maria Pisani challenged the tendency to discuss Maltese people and migrants as two uniform, unchanging groups. She argued that integration should be understood through the way people collectively shape society.

Enriqueta Chicano Jávega, president of Spain’s Court of Audit, stressed that responsibility for migration could not rest solely with the first country receiving people. She called for a collective response to circumstances including unemployment, poverty and conflict.

The programme also covered work permits, access to education and the integration of Ukrainian nationals benefiting from temporary protection.

For employers, these issues extend beyond recruitment. The effectiveness of education, integration and public administration can influence whether people can participate fully in the labour market and build stable lives.

The seminar provided a forum for examining those outcomes and sharing audit experience. It did not itself introduce new hiring restrictions or changes to Malta’s work-permit rules.