Illegal migration problem needs to be tackled seriously - PL spokesman

The problem of illegal migration has to be tackled seriously and there is an immediate need to move from talk to action at a European level, PL spokesman for Home Affairs, Michael Falzon said.

Dr Falzon said that Wednesday’s arrival of more than 80 illegal immigrants clearly showed that the problem was still there although there were fewer arrivals this year when compared to last summer.

Together with the economic, material and human resource problems this created, it also left certain political and diplomatic repercussions.

No one could deny that illegal migration did not help the good relations Malta had had for a long time with neighbouring Italy, with the latter also taking unacceptable positions regarding Malta’s search and rescue area.

Differences also seem to have cropped up at a European level, Dr Falzon said.