British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott yesterday insisted on the need for Malta and the UK to make the best of “common law, common friendship and common action” to be able to fight illegal trafficking in human beings.

Mr Prescott is in Malta on an official visit and he was speaking at a joint news conference with Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg.

Dr Borg said that while they discussed issues related to justice and home affairs, irregular migration was the main focus of the talks.

He said they also discussed ways of enhancing cooperation between Malta, the UK, Cyprus and Ireland, which are the four EU countries that have common law systems.

Mr Prescott said that while the UK was marking the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act, like Malta and other countries, it was facing the modern-day problem that has replaced slavery – irregular migration. He said it was extremely important for EU countries to work together to prevent illegal trafficking in human beings.

The British Deputy Prime Minister also held talks with President Edward Fenech Adami, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, as well as a delegation from the Malta Labour Party, led by deputy leader Charles Mangion.