The two-day Valletta Summit on Migration got underway in Valletta this afternoon with heads of government from 45 European and African countries streaming into the Auberge de Castille for an official welcome.

They walked past an AFM honour guard in brilliant sunshine to be greeted inside the historic building by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and European Council president Donald Tusk.

A number of the leaders paused to answer questions by waiting journalists. Noticeably, European leaders spoke on the focus of the summit as being measures to encourage migrants to return to their countries while African countries spoke of legal routes to Europe and integration.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who is the focus of attention by EU watchers because of his demand for reform, did not take questions. Nor did the Hungarian prime minister, whose country was the first to start erecting barriers to physically stop migrants.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogethini said Europe and Africa are dependent on each other and the purpose of the meeting was to explore new avenues of cooperation between the two sides. This, she said, was not a one-way thing.

POIGNANT OPENING CEREMONY

A brief, poignant ceremony was then held at Castille Place.

The EU and African leaders led by Dr Muscat and MrTusk gathered on the stairs of the Auberge as a bell at Our Lady of Victory church struck to mark the start of a minute’s silence in remembrance of those thousands of migrants who left their countries in search of a better life, but perished.

Silence descended on the square, unfortunately punctuated by the noise of an overhead security helicopter.

The delegates arrive on buses at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

Lights from St James Cavalier pierced the silence and a beam focused on the monument in the middle of the newly-revamped square, symbolising the unity between Europe and Africa.

Flags of the participating states were projected on the bastion.

The leaders then boarded a fleet of buses which took them to the Mediterranean Conference Centre, where the meeting will continue tonight and tomorrow morning in La Valette hall at the basement of the conference centre. The hall - built by the knights 300 years ago  as a hospital ward -  is an architectural gem boasting thick, vaulted ceilings.

JOSEPH MUSCAT OPENS PROCEEDINGS

The proceedings were opened by Dr Muscat who spoke on Malta’s historical role as a bridge between Europe and Africa.

He also pointed out that the conference centre was originally built by the Knights as a hospital for all, independently of race or religion.

He said the Mediterranean should be a region of jobs, culture and peace but it had come to mean death for thousands of people as they sought a better life.
The summit aimed to take decisions, he said. The delegates wanted to help these desperate people who risked all, while also facilitating the return of those who did not merit protection.

He was sure there would be agreements and disagreements, he said. The European Trust Fund due to be launched tomorrow would show Europe’s belief in Africa’s potential and its commitment to work with the continent.

Dr Muscat referred to the situation in Libya and appealed to the Libyan people to reach agreement to restore calm to their country before it was too late.

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande at the Valletta Summit.

Other speeches are being delivered by Mr Tusk, Macky Sall, President of Senegal, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, Alaheddine Mezouar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Morocco, Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the European Commission, Sameh Hassan Shukry, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs;

Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, currently president of the EU, Nkosazana Diamini Zuma, President of African Union Commission, chairperson of the AUCom, and Jan Eliasson, deputy general secretary of the United Nations.