Malta is to continue pressing for the setting up of a European Asylum Support Office, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said this morning.

Speaking to the media following bilateral talks Belgium's Secretary of State for Asylum and Immigration Melchior Wathelet this morning, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that although this was not the ultimate solution, it would be a very strong factor in bringing about a number of good solutions.

Mr Wathalet said that the office would reduce the possibility of asylum shopping and said that there was not one fixed solution for asylum and immigration in Europe so one had to keep looking for the best options, .

The Belgian minister, who is here on a one-day visit, said that Malta had always been especially affected by irregular migration.

The country, he said, had been at the centre of pilot projects and special issues regarding migration, which was one of the most sensitive issues within Europe. He called for more cooperation and harmonisation between EU countries.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici pointed out that due to the joint agreement between Libya and Italy, Malta saw a significant decrease in arrivals.

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