Irregular migration affecting social fabric

The record number of arrival of irregular immigrants this year has put extreme pressure on the accommodation capabilities as well as the social fabric of the Maltese islands, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said this morning.

Exchanging New Year greetings with the diplomatic corps, Dr Borg said that 2,700 immigrants landed in Malta this year compared to 1,700 last year.

The ministers said that intensified efforts wererequired to combat the illegal activities of unscrupulous traffickers who exploited the plight of fellow human beings for their own gain.

"It is also essential that EU member states give their full support to Frontex in order to make the patrolling of the sea borders more effective."

Malta, the minister said, welcomed the adoption of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and was particularly satisfied that the EU was recognising the need for effective solidarity and burden sharing with member states like Malta, which were faced with specific and disproportionate pressures on their national asylum systems.

"It is now important to ensure that the momentum built over the last months is maintained in 2009 aimed at implementing the key provisions of the Pact as soon as possible," he said.