The Maltese government worked hard to create awareness in the EU on Malta's problem with irregular immigration and achieved this through the intensive work and collaboration between the Home Affairs Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry, Tonio Borg yesterday.

The Home Affairs Minister Borg was replying to comments made by the Labour Party's spokesman on home affairs Gavin Gulia in parliament on July 6.

Dr Borg pointed out that special funds were assigned to countries with immigration problems thanks to the continuous pressure by the Maltese government.

The Maltese government also managed to commit Frontex to set up naval patrols in collaboration with European countries in the central Mediterranean.

Ideally the patrols should be carried out in collaboration with the Libyan government, said Dr Borg. "However, until this takes place, patrols can be carried out as a deterrent outside Libyan territorial waters and not in Malta's search and rescue area."

In a meeting held with the Italian Internal Minister Giuliano Amato on July 7, the Italian government accepted Malta's request to hold a meeting between the Internal Ministers of Libya, Italy and Malta to discuss the problem of irregular immigration.