Leaders of the 10 countries taking part in the Malta meeting of the 5+5 forum have agreed to consider the creation of a special migration task force which would pool the resources of the EU and North Africa.
Addressing a press conference at Verdala Palace at the end of the two-day meeting, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the idea floated by Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki was warmly welcomed by the European Commission and all the participating countries. It is now expected to be developed further during a summit for Maghreb countries in a few weeks time in Tunisia.
“For Malta, the migration issue is at the top of our agenda and we welcome positively the idea of working together on both sides of the Mediterranean on this issue,” Dr Gonzi said.
Reaffirming the summit’s commitment to looking at the migration problem from a humanitarian point of view, Dr Gonzi said that all the resources currently used by the European Commission and individual member states can be jointly used to better tackle this growing problem.
Speaking to The Sunday Times at the end of the summit, the Tunisian President said the idea is to share intelligence and cooperate better in this area, also through joint patrols and repatriation efforts.
“We can’t continue to let our people, including children and youngsters, die while hoping for a better life,” Mr Marzouki said.
The summit, which according to Dr Gonzi served as an informal forum of dialogue between the north and south Mediterranean, was the first such meeting held in the past nine years. The political scenario had also changed as a result of the Arab Spring, the Prime Minister added.
The Malta declaration, approved at the end of the two-day meeting, reaffirmed the support of member states towards the continued democratisation of the Maghreb region and the opening of more channels of dialogue and cooperation with the EU.
On Syria, the summit unreservedly condemned “the continuous acts of murder, violence and heinous crimes committed by the Syrian government forces” and called for “an immediate formation of a consensus transitional government.”
At the end of press conference, the heads of government congratulated Malta for the “excellent” organisation of the summit.
According to the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Aziz, “Malta showed its true vocation of acting as a bridge between Europe and North Africa.”