The detention centres hosting illegal immigrants were "evidence of the difficulties Malta is facing," Swedish Migration Minister Tobias Billström said yesterday.

Speaking to journalists at the end of his two-day visit, ahead of Sweden's takeover of the EU presidency on July 1, Mr Billström said he had seen first-hand the great effort put in by the Maltese government to host these people.

He said the pilot project approved by EU ministers last week was a step in the right direction but more needed to be done.

Under the tailor-made project, refugees and beneficiaries of humanitarian status will be able to relocate to other member states which volunteer to help Malta in return for substantial funds for each refugee they receive from the island.

"There is no quick solution to the immigration problem, especially the problems being faced by Malta. There has to be an effort to find a long-term solution," said the minister. When asked whether Sweden favoured mandatory burden sharing, whereby it would be obliged to take migrants from Malta, Mr Billström was non-committal, saying his country wanted see how the pilot project worked out.

He said the EU needed to work closely with Libya and other countries of origin.

Asked how he thought the relations between the EU and Libya could be improved, he said the starting points would be a stronger presence of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in the country and more cooperation with the countries of origin.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said the two had discussed building a stronger rapport between the EU and Libya since "Malta is seeing positive signs from Libya".

He said Frontex, the EU's border agency, should be brought on board in the repatriation of migrants who were not entitled to humanitarian or refugee status. The agency should also be strengthened.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici hailed the pilot project designed specifically for Malta, which he described as an important milestone for the country.