Migration has led to bickering between Malta and Italy but, despite the animated exchanges, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi took a message of goodwill with him to Sicily this week.

Opening a meeting of the European People’s Party in Palermo, Dr Gonzi said his presence was a sign of “respect and friendship” towards Italy, which was also affected by the migration phenomenon in the Mediterranean.

Dr Gonzi’s statement came 24 hours after the Italian ambassador to Malta protested with Foreign Minister Tonio Borg over an incident that happened last week when Malta insisted Italy save a boat of migrants that was closer to Lampedusa.

During the meeting Dr Gonzi said the crisis in North Africa had an impact on Europe that was much wider than the migration crisis.

He insisted that the EU should have a regional plan for Africa that went beyond pumping money into the continent.

Europe should see to it, he added, that the democratic process started in North Africa should also be accompanied by job creation and development of schools and hosp-itals.

Dr Gonzi said the migration flows seen today were different from those in the past and were prompted by the unrest in North Africa. He called on the EU to understand that the burden Malta and Italy faced was bigger than before.

The EPP summit spread over three days was titled Rebuilding A Strong Partnership In The Mediterranean and Dr Gonzi addressed a session that focussed on the crisis in the Arab world and North Africa.