European socialist leader underlines Malta's immigration problems

European Socialist leaders were acknowledging Malta's immigration problems, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today at the end of a summit of European socialist parties to launch their European Parliament electoral campaign.

The Labour leader observed that group president Martin Schulz made a direct reference to Malta's problem in a keynote speech at the conference in Toulouse yesterday.

Mr Schulz spoke about Malta's problems and stressed that the country could not be expected to solve the immigration problem on its own.

Dr Muscat said that such support showed that a progressive majority at the forthcoming EP elections would enable Malta to make a stronger case in the European Parliament.

He said the European socialists were like one family in their support for Malta.

During their meeting, the socialist leaders underlined the need for a change which would make Europe more receptive to the people's needs.

Speakers included George Papandreou,leader of the Greek Socialists, French socialist leader Martine Aubry, and Poul Nyrup Rasmussen former Danish Prime Minister and leader of the European socialists.

Dr Muscat, who also addressed the conference, was accompanied by party foreign affairs spokesman George Vella and Louis Grech, head of the PL delegation to the European Parliament.