Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici has called for renewed international cooperation to tackle at source the criminal activities which lie behind illegal immigration.

The minister made his comments when he addressed a meeting of the committee on dialogue among civilisations and human rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.

In his address he underscored the problems Malta is facing owing to irregular migration.

He said that the fact that 2,300 irregular migrants had landed in Malta posed a serious challenge.

"We are however, determined to respect our international humanitarian obligations to the full and appreciate those states and NGOs who have come to our support to share in the effects of this cause."

Dr Mifsud Bonnici called for burden-sharing by Malta's EU partners, but said southern Mediterranean countries also needed to do more.

"This belief is one of the reasons why in several European fora, Malta has insisted on the need to enhance cooperation with countries of origin and transit with a view to tackle the criminal activities that lie behind illegal immigration at their source. Today, I would like to reiterate this appeal to you," Dr Mifsud Bonnici said.

In his address, the minister also announced that the Malta Maritime Authority is to procure equipment worth €1 million to enable the Civil Protection Department to combat marine pollution.

He explained that clean seas were of the utmost importance to Malta, not least because the sea was converted to potable water, and the sea was vital for tourism.

"Owing to its location in the centre of the Mediterranean, Malta is at a higher risk of marine pollution owing to the number of ships and other craft which transit the Maltese shipping lanes daily," he said.

The MMA was therefore preparing a contingency plan for combating oil pollution. The project was being carried out in liaison with the Civil Protection Department and other entities in Malta.