Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday criticised the Labour Party's electoral tactic that was based on politicising issues of national import such as illegal immigration and health.

"Adopting a partisan approach to such issues can have serious consequences," Dr Gonzi said during a press conference about illegal immigration.

He questioned whether it was a coincidence that soon after Labour leader Joseph Muscat broke the national consensus on illegal immigration, Italy changed its position over accepting immigrants found close to its ports.

"I don't want to imply anything, I'm merely presenting the facts," he said as he went on to add that the relationship between Malta and Italy remained a good one.

He highlighted differences between Nationalist and Labour MEPs in the wake of the June 6 European Parliament elections.

While the PN members had shown to be consistent and worked to place immigration high on the EU's agenda, he said, their Labour counterparts had been inconsistent through their votes in the EP.

Labour MEPS, he added, never managed to persuade their socialist friends in the EU to help Malta whereas PN MEPs had roped the European People's Party into their cause to ensure Europe recognised the unique problems faced by Malta in terms of illegal immigration.

Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil had been asked to write the immigration chapter within the EPP's electoral programme.

Dr Gonzi said that over the past five years about 12,000 immigrants had landed on Malta's shores. Of these, about 5,000 were still in Malta.