Southern EU member states yesterday called for more "concrete solidarity" from the other members in order to tackle the influx of illegal migrants from North Africa.
They also called upon the EU to come up with "new methods" as to how to tackle this growing problem.
In a presentation during an informal meeting of EU leaders in Lahti, Finland, Spanish Prime Minister José Rodriguez Zapatero, on behalf of Malta, Italy, Portugal, France, Greece and Cyprus called for more boats, planes and money to help stem the flow of migrants.
He outlined new plans to change the way the EU handles illegal migrants on the high seas, suggesting they are not taken any longer to the nearest European port but instead be transported immediately back to the country where they embarked from. He recommended that the EU set up joint offices to process asylum seekers in the countries of origin or in the transit countries illegal immigrants are passing through to get to Europe.
Before the summit, eight heads of EU southern member states asked the current president of the EU, Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, to put illegal immigration on the summit's agenda. It was agreed that Mr Zapatero will speak on their behalf.
Intervening during the discussion, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi called on the EU to tackle this problem seriously.
"This is not a problem of Malta or the other member states on the southern borders of the EU. This is a problem that affects the entire EU and so all member states should be involved in combating this phenomenon."
While praising the recent initiatives taken by the EU to help Malta in this sector, particularly with the launching of operation Nautilus, Dr Gonzi stressed the need for more resources to be dedicated to Frontex, the border control agency, so that help will be stepped up next year.
The security of energy supply and innovation funding also dominated the summit's discussions.
Addressing a press conference at the end of the meeting, Dr Gonzi said the government is awaiting the finalisation of technical reports detailing options on how a new electricity submarine cable between Malta and Sicily is to be financed. The government has already decided to invest in the project, which will connect the country to the European electricity grid, thus removing Malta's insularity in this crucial sector.
Asked whether Malta will be using EU structural funds for this investment, Dr Gonzi said a decision on the project's financing is still to be taken.
"Technical reports are being finalised and we will also probably have to conduct some surveys of the seabed between Malta and Sicily before taking the final decision. However, we are determined to invest in this link which will ensure our supply for the next decades."
Preliminary studies show that the electricity link with Sicily could be up and running by 2010. The electricity cable will probably link up at Pembroke, since it is an area free from shipping activity.
The laying and installation of the submarine cable is estimated to cost about Lm60 million.
Dr Gonzi referred to the submissions received by the government for the installation of offshore wind farms. He said that although the submissions are very encouraging it does not mean that "there are no problems and that we can get on with these projects". He said Malta's geological structures still pose serious limits on the use of the wind energy generation option and the government is still analysing the proposals submitted.
On innovation, another main theme of the summit, Dr Gonzi referred to the presentation of the budget and said that apart from presenting a new strategy on research and development to be implemented by the Malta Council for Science and Technology, the government is also investing more money in research and development. He said there is a need for a revision in the way statistics are compiled in this sector in order to also reflect private sector investment.
After the summit, the 25 EU leaders dined with Russian President Vladimir Putin when a discussion on energy also took place. Russia is one of the main suppliers of energy to the EU. Forty per cent of all European gas supplies arrive from Russian gas fields in Siberia.