EU commissioner of migration visits Malta to show support

Visiting EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship said here on Thursday that the migration issue in Malta is further compounded by fears that terrorists could be making their way into Europe via illegal migration routes, according to local newspaper Independent.

Speaking during a visit to the European Asylum Support Office in Marsa, some 3 km away from Valletta, Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said the purpose of his visit to Malta was to show his own solidarity with Malta and said he would urge all member states to show the same support to Malta.

"It is true that Malta did not receive enough support in the past but things are changing. The increased cooperation between member states is giving results," Avramopoulos said. "Solidarity must not remain an EU slogan: it has to be shown in a tangible way."

In a meeting with Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on the same day, the commissioner warned that the EU could not afford to let Libya collapse as this would have serious security repercussions and aggravate irregular migration.

Avramopolous underlined that Malta's proximity to countries going through a phase of instability has resulted in unprecedented pressures related to migration and security. The commissioner assured that Malta has the commission's support in the efforts being made to address existing and prospective difficulties. Endit