Updated: Malta invites Libyan, Italian ministers for migration talks

Malta has invited the Libyan and Italian foreign ministers for a meeting in Malta to discuss illegal immigration, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg has said.

He was replying to a question in Parliament on his views on changes in Italian policy on illegal migration and whether the Maltese government had had talks with the Italian government over the issue.

Dr Borg said he had discussed migration with Italian minister, Franco Frattini (picture), especially in the context of an agreement reached between Libya and Italy last year on patrols in Libyan waters, which agreement has not yet come into force. He said Malta had expressed an interest in that agreement and invited the Libyan and Italian foreign ministers to possibly meet in Malta to discuss irregular migration.

Meanwhile, Mr Frattini was reported this morning to have shrugged off the latest criticism of draft legislation in Italy to make illegal immigration a jailable offence, saying the country would be in good company once it came into law.

Mr Frattini said illegal immigration was already a criminal offence in France, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

"Should the bill be approved, I will be in fine company since the ... (measure) is already in force in important countries of the (European) Union," he said in an interview published today in Il Messaggero newspaper.

The proposal is part of a package of measures against illegal immigration drafted by Silvio Berlusconi's government which have caused concern in Europe that they might foment racism. It proposes to confiscate apartments rented to illegal immigrants, speed up expulsions, extend the time they can be held and turn some camps for immigrants into detention centres.

Outgoing United Nations human rights chief Louise Arbour criticised the measures on Monday, describing them as an example of repression and intolerance.

The Vatican also came out against them. Archbishop Agostino Marchetti telling Radio Vaticana that illegal immigrants should not be treated as criminals because those who worked were making a contribution to society.