Spain reserves judgement on Malta´s asylum agency bid

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has ended a brief visit to Spain with no firm commitment from his counterpart on Malta´s bid to host the EU Asylum Support Agency.

The issue was raised by Dr Gonzi in a 45-minute meeting with Spanish PM Jose Luis Zapatero, within the context of a wider debate on immigration.

Addressing the press after the meeting, Dr Gonzi said most countries, including Spain, were reserving their decision on who should host the agency for the December summit. Poland and Italy have publicly endorsed Malta´s bid.

Dr Gonzi flew to Spain this morning for talks with Mr Zapatero on the priorities of the Spanish presidency of the EU, which starts on January 1. Mr Zapatero said the main priorities of the presidency would be economic recovery and job creation. The presidency would also focus heavily on the renewal of the Lisbon Strategy for competitiveness and work to strengthen the EU´s presence in the international arena, with particular focus on relations with the US, Russia, Latin America and the Mediterranean.

Dr Gonzi acknowledged Spain´s support for Malta´s efforts to get the EU to adopt a common approach to immigration, which he described as a "tremendous challenge" not only for the Mediterranean but for the whole of Europe.

He said the Spanish PM was "sympathetic" to Malta´s plight with particular interest in the human tragedy that accompanied the immigration phenomenon.

Dr Gonzi described the Spanish presidency as a "milestone" since it would coincide with the hoped-for economic recovery. Spain, he said, would have the challenge of getting Europe moving again and creating sustainable, stable jobs.

Spain currently has an unemployment rate of almost 20 per cent and has been particularly hard-hit by the international recession. Both prime ministers agreed it would be better for the EU´s institutional reform to be concluded by year´s end.

Dr Gonzi did say that a special summit could be called later this month to iron out the changes, particularly the election of the new EU President and the Foreign High Representative. No names, were however, discussed in the meeting, Dr Gonzi said. Climate change was also on the agenda with the Prime Minister insisting a one-size-fits-all policy was not adequate for a small island like Malta.

The two Prime Ministers also discussed bilateral relations, including the visit to Malta by King Juan Carlos later this month, when a number of agreements will be signed.

The Maltese delegation included Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, Malta´s EU High Representative Richard Cachia Caruana and Ambassador to Spain Tanya Vella.