Malta is to continue working with the European Commission for the burden sharing principle to be implemented in a practical and effective manner in the near future, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said.

Speaking during an exchange of New Year greetings with the consular corp, Dr Gonzi referred to the migration pact signed last October saying that EU member states had agreed to give greater onsideration to the difficulties faced by member states affected by a disproportionate influx of immigrants.

The problem of illegal migration was also referred to by Foreign Minister Tonio Borg who said that his ministry was working perpetually to address this problem in the best manner through several opportunities such as Frontex and Dar.

The main aim of Dar was to provide immigrants with assistance to return to their countries and embark on a new life with the financial help they would receive.

The result, Dr Borg said, was positive and encouraging but more needed to be done. Consuls could help because they were instrumental for the issuing of travel documents as necessary for these people to be able to return home, he said.