International events, particularly the developments in Libya, affected Malta, Labour Party deputy leader Toni Abela said this evening.

Dr Abela was closing the plenary session of the party’s annual general conference.

He said that what former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff used to say, that there could not be peace in Europe unless there was peace in the Mediterranean, was now making a lot of sense because of what was happening.

Dr Abela spoke on irregular migration saying this could not be stopped but pressure should continue to be made on all EU countries to share the burden.

He insisted that altruism should prevail on egoism even in the case of migration and one should put himself in the position of immigrants who fled their country.

Dr Abela also spoke on fuel prices and the water and energy tariffs saying that rather than looking at the internet fuel calculator it created, the Nationalist Party should see the lower water and electricity tariffs families and businesses were enjoying.