Europe had to become more intensely involved politically in the situation in Palestine, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Speaking during an exchange of New Year greetings with the diplomatic corps, Dr Gonzi said more intensive political involvement was required from the European side, in addition to the material and financial support Europe provided.

"This suffering and the suffering of the people of Israel living under continuous threat should motivate us to leave no stone unturned in seeking a just and lasting peace for the region," he said.

The Prime Minister said Malta was convinced immigration was one of the key issues critical to an intimate working relationship between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean. He said the collaboration with Libya had helped a lot in this regard.

"Due to the positive intervention of the Libyan government, the flow of illegal immigrants has been reduced, though by no means suppressed. Fewer lives have been lost at sea over the last summer than was the case in earlier years," he said.

"Malta will continue to work to ensure the problem of illegal immigration will remain inspired by a twin strategy based on the respect of international legality and the application of burden sharing," Dr Gonzi said.