Sovereign Military Hospitaller
Order of St John of Jerusalem of
Rhodes and of Malta

Order of Malta at Munich Security Conference with a debate on Migration and International Security

Grand Chancellor: We are addressing the issue from a multidisciplinary perspective and in the light of current emergencies

Rome, 17 February 2022 – The winds blowing on the year that has just begun are bringing uncertainty and instability. After two years of pandemic – with disastrous consequences for the social and economic fabric – and the increase in inequalities and poverty on a global scale, the new year is opening with fears of a new conflict on Europe’s doorstep.

Added to this bleak picture are the many ongoing crises, such as those in Syria, Yemen, the Sahel region and the Horn of Africa, as well as instability in many other regions of the world, starting with Afghanistan. Conflicts and tensions that are forcing millions of people to flee.

The 2022 edition of the Munich Security Conference, which takes place in Munich from 18 to 20 February, addresses these challenges by bringing together many world leaders to take stock of the instruments and resources needed.

The Order of Malta is participating in the Munich Security Conference with a debate on migration and international security. In his opening speech, scheduled for tomorrow Friday, 18 February, Grand Chancellor Albrecht Boeselager addresses the issue of security from a multidisciplinary perspective by analysing the phenomenon of migration in the light of growing nationalisms and growing inequalities that characterize this historical moment.

“In this panel, we take a multidisciplinary approach, distancing ourselves from the ‘security = control of the territory’ equation. The concept of security is no longer associated with the idea of sovereignty and military power, but instead with the respect for international humanitarian laws,” explains the Grand Chancellor. “We also analyse the intrinsic benefits of migration and highlight its potential for modern societies.”

The debate on migration and international security will be attended by the European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, the Moldovan President Maia Sandu, the Secretary for Relations with States for the Holy See, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska, and the director of UNICRI (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute), Antonia Marie de Meo.

You can follow the meeting “Migration and International Security” in streaming by connecting to the following link https://youtu.be/TVEMNCcTw6w from 11.30 a.m.