With every day that passes the situation in Libya is becoming more delicate and the EU must take on a central role, Miriam Dalli said during a debate with the Commission and the European Council.

Dalli stressed that European citizens are currently very concerned about what is happening in the Meditterean, particularly in Libya.

"There has never been a better time to discuss this pertinent issue, not only because there is a need to take urgent action on immigration but also due to the recent developments in the Mediterranean. " said Dalli.

The discussion at the European Parliament took place in the wake of the current violence and tension in Libya in light of the reports that IS Islamist extremists have taken over one of Libya's main coastal cities, Derna.

With regards to illegal immigration, Dalli appealed to all EU institutions to work together seriously and effectively "our citizens feel that there is no interest at EU level to change the current situation"

During her speech, Miriam Dalli made a direct appeal to the Commission and Council to implement a strategy to combat illegal immigration. Mentioning three concrete proposals to help solve the current situation in the Mediterranean, the Maltese Labour party representative on the European Parliament's Committee which deals with migration said "Let us implement that which we have been debating for so long".

Dalli highlighted that a comprehensive strategy with third countries, a strategy which includes addressing the current situation in conflict zones such as Libya and Syria and the revision of the Dublin regulations could all help ease the burdens caused by the issue of immigration.

"I believe that only with these measures in toe can we seriously address the problem of immigration that we have been paying lip-service to for far too long".