The NSO has formally designated the International Protection Agency (IPA) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) as Other National Authorities (ONAs) responsible for producing specified European statistics on international protection. The designation follows the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the NSO and the two entities and has been formally communicated to Eurostat in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009.
The designation reflects the respective responsibilities of the IPA and the IPAT for data already compiled and transmitted to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), which is subsequently made available to Eurostat for the production of European statistics under Regulation (EC) No 862/2007. As ONAs, both organisations become recognised members of Malta’s National Statistical System for the specific statistical activities covered by the agreements.
The IPA is responsible for collecting and transmitting a wide range of official statistics related to international protection, including asylum applications, first-time applicants, first-instance decisions, withdrawn applications, pending cases and resettled persons. The IPAT, in turn, is responsible for statistics relating to appeals and reviews, including final decisions on asylum cases and pending appeal cases.
The agreements establish a clear framework for cooperation between the NSO, the IPA and the IPAT and set out the responsibilities of each organisation in relation to the quality, relevance and timeliness of the statistics they produce. In line with European statistical legislation, both organisations are required to comply with Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 and the European Statistics Code of Practice for the statistical activities falling within their remit.
The designation of the IPA and the IPAT further strengthens coordination within Malta’s National Statistical System by formally recognising the institutions that contribute directly to the production of European statistics. It also enhances transparency and accountability in the production of official statistics on international protection, ensuring that the respective responsibilities for data collection, quality assurance and reporting are clearly defined and aligned with European standards.
Through these agreements, the NSO continues to reinforce collaboration across the National Statistical System while promoting the production of high-quality, reliable and internationally comparable statistics that support evidence-based policymaking at both national and European levels.
