‘The Mediterranean is a bridge, not a border’

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Malta’s Foreign Minister Chris Fearne used a Talk to Al Jazeera interview to argue that Europe needs a broader, more coordinated response to migration and other crises linked to the Mediterranean region. He said the sea should be understood as a bridge between Europe and Africa rather than a dividing line, framing migration as a challenge that cannot be addressed only within Europe’s own borders.

According to the interview, Fearne connected that point to a wider foreign policy view in which Malta backs a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, continued European support for Ukraine, and efforts to help Libya move toward elections and national reunification. He also said the international environment has become more dangerous and suggested that the rule of law is not always consistently applied around the world.

The discussion was published by Al Jazeera on 16 August 2026. The comments are notable because Malta sits at the edge of the Mediterranean migration route and often speaks from the perspective of a frontline European Union member state. More broadly, Fearne’s remarks reflect a common debate in Europe over how to balance border control, humanitarian obligations and cooperation with countries across North Africa and the Middle East.