Updated: Migration - Malta proposes defence meetings with Italy

(Adds meeting with Labour leader)

Italy and Malta needed to show all other EU member states that illegal immigration was a problem to all the EU, the Speaker of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Gianfranco Fini, said today.

Speaking after meetings with Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, Sig. Fini referred to disagreements between Malta and Italy on the destination of migrants' boats and said these were only minor mishaps and misunderstandings in the strong relationship between the two countries.

Italy, he said, wanted to see a reduction in the number of people trying to enter both countries illegally. These did not come just from Libya but also from other countries.

Sig. Fini said he would like to see cooperation for the social and economic development of these countries because illegal immigration would not be resolved unless countries that needed help were assisted.

He said there should also be established procedures on search and rescue so that the problems that happened between Italy and Malta in the past would not be repeated.

There also had to be established procedures on repatriation because Italy and Malta were in the same boat in terms of providing assistance to those who landed on their shores.

Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta should tackle this problem together even at an EU level, he said.

Dr Borg said that Malta and Italy, being so close and having such a good relationship, should cooperate more on illegal migration and use their friendship to bring results for the Mediterranean. He said the Malta was proposing regular meetings on the defence issues related to illegal migration.

He said the two countries recently also signed an important agreement on cooperation in the health sector. Italy, he said, had also backed Malta in its efforts to host the offices of the EU refugee 's agency in Malta.

Sig Fini, who is in Malta on a day's visit, will call on President George Abela, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the House. He will also visit the Italian Cultural Institute.

Sig. Fini also had a meeting with Labour leader Joseph Muscat during which illegal migration was also discussed.

Both agreed that the problem could not be solved unless the source countries were given the assistance they required.

Dr Muscat hoped that the Mediterranean Union would be strengthened and promoted.