Merkel expresses 'extreme solidarity' with Malta over immigration

German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday promised Germany will not shirk its responsibility to extend its "extreme solidarity" with Malta in the island's efforts to tackle illegal migration.

Dr Merkel said the issue promised to be an uphill struggle but the magnitude of the problem in Malta called for solidarity even with respect to the acceptance of refugees through the EU's Immigration and Asylum Pact signed by member states last year.

"You can rest assured that Germany would not shirk its responsibilities as an EU member state".

She did not however say how many refugees Germany may be accepting.

As expected, the subject topped the agenda in talks between Dr Merkel and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi during his first official visit to Germany.

The visit has been long in coming. In fact, Dr Merkel welcomed Dr Gonzi with an "At last, you finally came", before he proceeded to be given a national salute and an inspection of the Guard of Honour.

The Chancellor of the largest EU member state and the Prime Minister of the smallest also discussed climate change, energy issues and renewable energy.

Dr Merkel said there was room for more cooperation in the sector and they agreed that their environment ministers would meet to discuss the matter in more detail.

Dr Gonzi said the meeting was very positive. Germany, he said, is an important trade and investment partner and an important tourism source market.

In this vein, he said the recently announced German economic stimulus package was good news for Malta.

He said that during the discussion on illegal immigration, they had discussed how the EU Immigration Pact could be implemented and also how Frontex, the EU border agency, could be strengthened through being given more technical equipment.

Dr Gonzi's meeting at the Chancellery followed a breakfast meeting with senior officials from Deutsche Bank led by the managing director of its central and eastern European markets section, Peter Tils.

Speaking to Maltese journalists later, Mr Tils said that after opening two small offices offering financial services, the bank was now looking at expanding its investment in Malta where the bank saw "many good opportunities".

Yesterday evening, Dr Gonzi addressed around 150 guests on Malta's experience as an EU member state and its ambitions for the future. The audience consisted of representatives of German ministries, embassies, European institutions and German parliamentarians.

Dr Gonzi said EU membership had brought "unprecedented investment" to Malta and led the country to embark on a comprehensive liberalisation and privatisation programme with the end result being "a remarkable diversification of the economy".

He said EU funds also helped Malta's economic development. By 2013, Malta would have received the equivalent of €2,500 in EU funds per person.

Dr Gonzi said the adoption of the euro on January 1 last year "has already paid off handsomely" and is providing the country with some shelter during the financial crisis.

He described Malta's first five years as an EU member state as "an exceedingly positive experience for Malta" transforming it from an isolated nation to a frontrunner in European integration.