The opportunity for political reform in the Mediterranean is unprecedented, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this afternoon.

Giving a public talk "The Mediterranean – An Opportunity?", at the London School of Economics, Dr Gonzi said that structural political changes could not be disassociated from further economic reforms.

Moreover, political reform could not fully respond to citizens' demands if it was not accompanied by better living standards.

The Prime Minister said that long-term structural unemployment represented a daunting challenge for the region.

Ranging between 10 and 25 per cent, unemployment was one of the main triggers of the revolts that led to the sweeping change across the region, he said noting that this was particularly acute among youth but was also high among the educated and women.

He said that as a result of the lack of economic opportunities that existed in the region, the human tragedy of irregular migration was expected to increase and countries like Malta and Italy were already experiencing the increase in migratory flows towards Europe.

The Prime Minister said that Malta was committed to assist and share its experience with these countries and the basis of enhanced regional cooperation.

The success of this initiative would lie in the informality of regular interaction between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

"This is especially the case in the human tragedy of irregular immigration... It is Europe's problem as much as it is Sub-Sahara and North Africa's problem.

"It is above all a humanitarian problem that uncovers the desperation, hunger, malnutrition and violence that these people endure in their country of origin. Their voyage of hope is itself the fruit of despair.

"It is to this problem that we as international community have to respond to. The response to this tragedy is not only about burden sharing or repatriation but above all it has to direct aid to the countries of origin."

Dr Gonzi said that unless the issues are tackled at source by the international community, irregular migration will continue to be a humanitarian tragedy.

"This is why regional cooperation is needed – so that together we can invest in people's lives in their own country," he said.