Justice Minister Chris Said yesterday insisted that the time had come for EU states to move away from the voluntary relocation of asylum seekers to a “more permanent” solidarity scheme.

Dr Said made the remark at the start of a meeting he held with Dutch Immigration, Integration and Asylum Minister Gerd Leers.

Immigration is part of the Home Affairs portfolio and should therefore be the responsibility of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

But it was Dr Said, together with Home Affairs Parliamentary Assistant Beppe Fenech Adami, who met Mr Leers yesterday.

Accompanied by Dutch Ambassador to Malta Robert Gabriëlse, Mr Leers told Dr Said he had sympathy for the pressure Malta faced in handling arrivals of asylum seekers.

“I am convinced of the importance of EU solidarity on this issue, most especially with border states such as Malta,” Mr Leers said.

Dr Said thanked the Dutch minister for the Netherlands having accepted 20 Malta-based asylum seekers last June. The Maltese Government had received pledges for 350 further relocations from various other countries, he added.

The meeting continued behind closed doors.

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