Prime Minister welcomes his Maltese counterpart

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius met with Malta’s Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. The discussions mainly focused on illegal migration, which raises concern not only for Malta but for the whole EU, according to Prime Minister Gonzi.

The counterparts agreed about the necessity to step up the pilot project concerning an illegal immigration for Malta, which found approval in the last European Council. This project provides for a set of measures aimed to address the current humanitarian emergency in Malta as well as other Southern European States, as illegal immigrants from the African continent continue to flood Europe.

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius expressed solidarity with Malta in its efforts finding solutions to this acute problem. The Maltese Prime Minister thanked Lithuania for its immediate response to Malta’s request, when a few years ago, Lithuania received six immigrants that got to Malta illegally, and granted them refugee status. According to Gonzi, Lithuania, like Malta, is a border state, therefore it faces the risk of coming up against similar problems.

The Maltese Prime Minister also said that his country had an ambition to host the European Asylum Support Office. Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius assured of Lithuania’s support in this regard.

Other issues, like cooperation in the fields of tourism, business and cultural exchange, were also brought up during the cordial and friendly conversation.