We refer to the article “Security à la Maltaise” by Anna Mallia which appeared in MaltaToday of the 27 July.
The comments made regarding security measures at MIA in view to the recently introduced Schengen procedures require clarification:
The responsibility to ensure the abidance of the Schengen regulations falls under the aegis of the Immigration Authorities, whilst MIA is responsible for the proper allocation of dedicated gates for Schengen and non-Schengen arrivals and departures. In this regard MIA has applied a number of internal procedures to safeguard the security of passengers when channelled through the respective gates.
As far as Schengen checks/screening is concerned, this also is part of the Police responsibility and all departing passengers to both Schengen/non-Schengen destinations are subjected to full security screening including luggage, hand luggage and walk-through detector checks.
With regards to passport control, all passengers travelling to non-Schengen countries are obliged to present their passport to the Immigration Personnel in the departure lounge. Passengers travelling on a dual destination flight having a Schengen/non-Schengen combination are directed to passport control. Moreover once a passenger passes through passport control and accesses the non-Schengen area there can be no further access back into the Schengen area.
Your columnist may wish to note that prior to the adoption of the Schengen procedures MIA embarked on an intensive training programme for all the entities involved, specifically directed to ensure the smooth and efficient segregation of Schengen and non-Schengen passengers on arrival and departure.

Rosette Fenech
Head of Communications