Updated 2.06pm - Added Busuttil comments

Brexit, a common European Asylum System and the exchange of security information were all on the agenda in a meeting between deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech and EU Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans held yesterday. 

The meeting was held at the Auberge d'Aragon, with EU Presidency parliamentary secretary Ian Borg also attending, the Ministry for European Affairs said in a statement.  

Mr Grech and Mr Timmermans agreed on the importance of restoring citizens' faith in the EU project and imparting the bloc with a renewed momentum. 

Malta will host the presidency of the European Council between January and July 2017, and both sides discussed various aspects of the Commission's 2017 work programme during the meeting. 

There was agreement on the need to speed up work tackling Europe's ongoing migration issues, facilitating the return of failed asylum seekers and reaching agreements with African countries of origin and transit. 

Other aspects discussed included the completion of the Single Market, the Digital Single Market and Capital Markets Union, as well as maritime policy and the EU's 60th anniversary, which will be marked during Malta's presidency of the European Council. 

PN urges Commission to conclude Delimara power station investigation

Mr Timmermans also met with Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil during his visit. 

Dr Busuttil urged the Commission vice-president to push for an investigation into the Delimara power station to be concluded as soon as possible. The Commission is looking into State Aid arrangements put into place for the power station. 

The PN leader also spoke to Mr Timmermans about corruption in the local political scene, saying that Transparency International had publicly noted that the country "needs to clean up its corruption mess before the Council of the EU next year".