Updated:
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said today that it would be 'difficult' for Malta to get help to deal with illegal immigration if burden-sharing was obligatory.
"Solidarity cannot be obligatory," the Polish Prime Minister said at a press conference at the Auberge de Castille this afternoon. The press conference was held after talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
"As long as decisions on immigration are left up to individual countries, they have to be on a voluntary basis," he added.
However, if a proposal was put at EU level and it was decided that immigration would be dealt with in an organised manner, Poland would land its support.
Mr Tusk said Poland's experience with immigration was recent and negative. However, he promised that by the end of the year, his country would provide Malta with a 'schedule of assistance' as an expression of solidarity. Poland, he said, was ready to help find a solution to the immigration problem and also help Malta achieve its aspirations with regard to the hosting of EU agencies.
He did not give details, but is believed to have been referring to Malta's candidature to host the European Asylum Office.
Mr Tusk said the two leaders also discussed climate change and bilateral issues.
He said that before going to the Copenhagen climate summit, each EU member state had to be fully aware of the financial burden it would have to carry if effective changes to counter climate change were to be taken. "If the burden is too heavy, it would not be feasible for the Copenhagen conclusions to be implemented."
Prime Minister Gonzi said Malta was insisting that climate change solutions needed to match individual countries' capabilities.
He also underscored the seriousness of the migration problem and the human tragedy which was at its root.
Mr Tusk arrived in Malta earlier today accompanied by a 30-strong business delegation which took part in a Malta Enterprise seminar on doing business with Poland.
Trade exchanges between the two countries have doubled since they joined the EU . During 2008 Malta imported almost €17.5 million worth of products from Poland and exported almost €13 million.
Mr Tusk leaves tomorrow.