The letter of Josie Muscat (Malta Pressed For Time On Immigration, April 6) argues that EU burden-sharing of illegal immigrants coming to our shores is not working, that Malta will soon no longer be European and that we should be pressed for time on immigration and, therefore, by implication, adopt the drastic strategies suggested by Azzjoni Nazzjonali or the Labour Party (PL).

To begin with, European, to me, means to be democratic, tolerant and to promote legality and human rights, in all our actions. It is not a pick-and-choose equation.

But beyond that, the measures proposed by AN and PL lack political realism, are very short-sighted and rash in strategy and in objective.

As much as drastic measures remain on the table, we should not be venting them while we are also capable of working within the European Union to find legal and long-term solutions.

One of the Maltese MEPs representing us in Brussels has just submitted a report to Parliament which will put burden-sharing again on the agenda.

With such consistent and credible politics in the European Parliament and with the other institutions we have a real expectation of seeing a shift in the tide.

Jacques Barrot and Gunter Verheugen's statements are clear signs of that, after all. First convince politicians, then you will convince institutions.

But first of all we should give time its time. It is clear that we have not seen our EU partners rushing to share the burden as called on in the Immigration Pact signed in November. But that immigration pact is only six months old after all. Do any of us expect a toddler to stand up and start running marathons?

Timing and mature politics is what can offer a solution to the illegal immigration problem. Rash conclusions and spontaneous statements will help us only to become isolated, then ignored, then fend for ourselves. Not a path to take, notwithstanding the adrenaline it might ooze.