Answering a question put by this newspaper during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister John Dalli yesterday, Mr Nielson said people trafficking was not a problem particular to the Mediterranean region. “It is also a problem in the East of Europe. It is a global problem and to properly tackle the issue, we need a collective melting pot of all our resources,” he said.

Mr Nielson said he felt that all (25) EU members should show more political coherence and maturity in addressing the issue. “A problem for us is that the illegal immigration phenomenon is tackled by inter-governmental agreements and various national authorities. The Commission (Aid and Development) only has soft instruments which it can use in this regard,” he said.

Mr Nielson said there was hope, however, in the form of the 10 new members. “They have, including Malta of course, been negotiating with the EU for years now and I hope the way in which they have done so will inspire the older 15,” he said.

Mr Nielson said: “By pooling together our resources, especially law enforcement authorities, we can really help tackle the problem and provide help to those who need it.”

Speaking about his partner, our own Joe Borg, Mr Nielson said the pair of them got on very well and worked together well too. “I can’t wait to get down to some serious work with him,” said Mr Nielson.

Mr Nielson explained that the EU’s Humanitarian Aid Commission was present in all the trouble spots of the world. “We go to countries where there are conflicts, disasters. We are sometimes criticised for the time it takes us to get to these spots, but on the flip side, we are the only people to go to these places,” said Mr Nielson.

He said the EC had a presence in failed states such as Somalia, the Congo and many others. He said the EC was the main provider of aid to these countries. “As from today, the ten new states will also be contributing to our aim of eradicating poverty from the world. This is what the European Union is all about.”

Asked why he was in Malta, Mr Nielson replied with a smile: “For the sheer thrill of the moment.” He wished Malta every success possible from joining the EU.

Mr Nielson also had a meeting with Opposition leader Alfred Sant in which they had what he termed “a philosophical discussion about globalisation”. He also paid a courtesy visit to President Edward Fenech Adami.