Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this evening that Malta is ready to contribute should the EU agree to a second bailout for Greece.

Speaking in Brussels, where he is attending an EU summit dominated by the financial crisis in Greece, Dr Gonzi said that problems in other European countries affect Malta and it is therefore in Malta's interest to contribute to help keep Greece afloat.

Malta made available €78 million last year for the first bailout to Greece.

The EU is discussing a second bailout of between €100 billion and €120 billion.

The summit is also due to discuss immigration, particularly the new Schengen Safeguard System that some countries want to introduce to be able to suspend the Schengen rules in extraordinary situations. The EU leaders will also discuss the proposed common European Asylum Policy.

They are also expected to discuss the situation in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and Tunisia.

The summit is expected to confirm the appointment of Mario Dragi as the new president of the European Central Bank, succeeding Jean Claude Trichet.

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