Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil said today that he hoped the prime minister would achieve concrete solutions on immigration at the EU summit in Brussels, and that Malta's name would not be tarnished in the process.

Dr Busuttil made his comment in a statement issued by the PN while he attended a meeting of the European Popular Party in Brussels.

The meeting was headed by the acting president of the EPP Joseph Daul. Those present included EU Council president  Herman Van Rompuy and the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.

The discussion centred on irregular immigration, the European economy, the forthcoming European Parliament elections and the EPP candidature for the presidency of the European Commission.

Dr Busuttil noted that the prime minister had said he was not prepared to leave Brussels without concrete solutions on immigration.

He augured that such solutions would be achieved, but Malta's name would not be tarnished in the process. 

The meeting saluted the memory of EPP president Wilfried Martens who passed away recently.