Joseph Muscat targeted voters disillusioned by Europe’s lack of action to help Malta deal with the migration phenomenon this morning in Mosta.

The Prime Minister insisted voters had a choice to vote for the Labour Party, which meant a vote for Martin Schulz, the Socialist candidate for European Commission president.

Dr Muscat said Mr Schulz, who was in Malta on Saturday, spelt out his vision on migration, which called for legal channels of migration to be created in countries of origin.

In this way migrants would be able to apply to enter the EU and after a screening process they will be relocated among all countries of the bloc according to pre-established thresholds.

“If you want Europe to do something about immigration you must not stay at home because there is a clear choice in Martin Schulz,” Dr Muscat said.

In a speech peppered with the government’s economic achievements over the past year, Dr Muscat said that inflation was at its lowest, which meant that for the first time in many years the wage increase was more than the rise in the cost of living.

He then acknowledged there were various pockets of people, including those who suffered injustices in the past and those on precarious work contracts, who felt that not enough was done to address their problems.

“Just as we kept PN candidates – who gave a press conference in front of Labour HQ on Saturday – in mind and offered them biscuits, we won’t forgot you,” he said to rousing applause.

In a jibe towards Opposition leader Simon Busuttil’s interview with The Sunday Times of Malta today, Dr Muscat insisted his government started running from day one.

“We will not start running after two-and-a-half years like somebody else said he will do, but we started running from day one... to ensure the country becomes the best in Europe, a country of the hard-working.”

He insisted the government was committed to continue working for the good of the country and appealed to voters to give a clear message that the movement born last year was still going strong.

Dr Muscat started his speech by wishing all mothers well, with a particular mention to those who were expecting a baby for the first time after undergoing an IVF procedure at Mater Dei Hospital.

The Prime Minister thanked former health minister Godfrey Farrugia for making the IVF process possible last year.

Speaking ahead of the Prime Minister, Labour MEP candidate Marlene Mizzi said that she had voted in favour of Malta joining the EU in the 2003 referendum but had wished to see a Labour government.

“My wish has now been fulfilled because we [are in the EU and] also have a Labour government led by Prime Minister Muscat,” she said.