Lithuania may consider taking some refugees

The Lithuanian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee has promised to urge the incoming Lithuanian government to consider taking some refugees from Malta.

The assurance was given after the situation in Malta was explained by members of the Maltese Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in Vilnius. The Maltese delegation was on a tour which included Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland.

Finland will take over the presidency of the EU next month.

Delegation head Jason Azzopardi (PN) said various aspects of bilateral relations as well as EU matters were discussed during the visits to the Baltic capitals, with the Maltese committee placing a special emphasis on the need for burden sharing as far as illegal immigration was concerned.

The other members of the Maltese delegation were Nationalist MP Clyde Puli and Labour MPs Leo Brincat and Josè Herrera.

Trade relations, including the possibilty of Malta offering its services for Baltic states to penetrate North African markets, were also discussed.