The diplomatic bickering between Malta and Italy over illegal immigration last year was instigated by political parties vying for voters' attention ahead of the European Parliament election, according to the Italian ambassador.

Paolo Andrea Trabalza says in an interview with The Sunday Times that before the start of the electoral campaign "things were being done in exactly the same manner but they were being said in a soft way", before adding: "Some political parties wanted to enhance aspects of this problem to attract the voters' attention".

However, he insisted the bickering strengthened Malta and Italy's common view on immigration and helped bring the issue to the EU's attention.

He also defended what many believe is the EU's slow process to tackle the problem.

"When I hear people complain because nothing is being done I get the impression they do not realise that complex issues take time to digest before a solution is found. We have to keep raising awareness among other members of the Union but we also have to realise that northern European countries also have problems with migration. Malta is not the only country that is flooded by this new phenomenon," Mr Trabalza says.

In the interview he also talks about Italy's deal with Libya, the Swiss visa row and Malta's neutrality.