“Extremely concrete measures” on immigration were discussed during today’s meeting with EU Council president Herman Van Rompuy and Libya’s deputy Prime Minister, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this afternoon.
The Maltese Prime Minister addressed a joint press conference with Mr Van Rompuy in Castille where he revealed that yet another 500 migrants who left Libya were being monitored.
“Solutions cannot be found in two days, but the problem has become more serious in these two days,” Dr Muscat said.
Asked about the racist backlash that his actions provoked on social media, Dr Muscat said he did not condone “such language” being used by “a tiny minority” of the Maltese.
“The huge majority of Maltese are concerned about this issue. I am concerned. This concern should not be mistaken for racism. The Maltese are not a racist people,” he said.
Dr Muscat also refuted that on Tuesday his plan to send migrants back to Libya had been “botched”.
“We chose our words very carefully. We didn’t exclude any option. No decision had been made until the last minute,” he said.
Dr Muscat stressed that the solution on immigration involved Libya and he was glad that the country was showing “unprecedented” willingness to work.
The Prime Minister also apologised to Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom for what he called his “British sense of humour”, when he said that Sweden should take Malta’s migrants.
“The Commissioner was wrong,” he said, regarding her downplaying of migrant influx.
“We expect more solidarity... Do not try to diminish the size of the problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Van Rompuy said it was not his job to comment on the actions of each EU leader but stressed that problems could be solved through dialogue, negotiations, trust and confidence.
“This is the spirit we had in today’s meetings,” he said.
Mr Van Rompuy said he was "fully aware" of Malta's concerns and knew that money alone could not solve the problem. He said the meetings held today were "constructive" and showed the need for more surveillance.
"We have to address the root of migration," he said.
Earlier, Dr Muscat said the visit of EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy helped to “break new ground” on immigration.
“We reiterated our point of view which is basically that we cannot be left alone as a country. There is a sense of abandonment that our citizens feel. We have been assured that Europe does not intend leaving this country alone. We managed to break new ground in seeing a long term solution which we concurred lies at the south,” Dr Muscat said.
During his visit Mr Van Rompuy also had a previously unannounced meeting with the Libyan Prime Minister, as well as Dr Muscat.
“The meeting with the deputy prime minister of Libya set the ball rolling for developments that can be achieved in the next few months. We are not there yet. There is plenty to do. That is where Malta as an EU county will facilitate,” Dr Muscat said, adding: “Libya is not part of the problem but must be part of the solution.”
He said that in his meeting with Mr Van Rompuy, immigration, energy and the developments in the economic and monetary union were discussed.
The meeting between Mr Van Rompuy, Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Sadiq Abdulrahman and Dr Muscat was held at the Auberge de Castille and lasted about 20 minutes .
The Libyan minister then left without comment.
Dr Muscat revealed last week how he had phoned Mr Van Rompuy and given him formal notice that as part of Malta's insistence for real solidarity from the EU on the migration issue, the Maltese government would be prepared to use its veto on unrelated issues.
Dr Muscat said yesterday that Libya had to be seen as part of the solution of the immigration problem.
Mr Van Rompuy was welcomed at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech and called on the President at the Palace.
Mr Van Rompuy will later address the House of Representatives (See live stream)
The meeting between Mr Van Rompuy, Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Sadiq Abdulrahman and Dr Muscat was held at the Auberge de Castille and lasted about 20 minutes .
The Libyan minister then left without comment.
Dr Muscat revealed last week how he had phoned Mr Van Rompuy and given him formal notice that as part of Malta's insistence for real solidarity from the EU on the migration issue, the Maltese government would be prepared to use its veto on unrelated issues.
Dr Muscat said yesterday that Libya had to be seen as part of the solution of the immigration problem.
Mr Van Rompuy was welcomed at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech and called on the President at the Palace.