Azzjoni Nazzjonali said the continued arrival in Malta of irregular migrants in greater numbers showed clearly that Frontex was not effective and it could not be so because EU countries did not want to handle more such migrants and were happy to see Malta burdened with the problem.

Malta was today in the situation of having migrants coming ashore without anyone having seen them. That made Malta open to a landing by armed forces without anyone being aware.

It was not for nothing that the Prime Minister had at last recognised that Malta was being “invaded”, AN said.

It added that nothing but Maltese unilateral action would address the problem seriously, including withdrawing from the 1951 UN convention, which was never intended to address this situation.

Laws against those trafficking in humans and against illegal immigrants posing as refugees when they were not need to be strengthened, while social assistance to those who were not genuine refugees should be stopped.