The foreign ministers of Libya, Italy and Malta recognised the importance of enhanced cooperation between the three countries “in view, but not only, of the problems related to the trafficking in human beings”, the Department of Information reported yesterday.

The ministers, Mussa Kussa, Franco Frattini and Tonio Borg, met in Rome on Tuesday.

They underlined “the role which the EU has to assume” with a view of addressing this problem holistically. It was mentioned that there is the need to address the problem at source, that is at the countries of origin. “In this regard, Libya’s help as President of the African Union is instrumental,” the DOI reported.

Both Italy and Malta promised their full support so that the Framework Agreement between Libya and the EU is concluded by the end of term of the present Commission.

It was also agreed that meetings at the tripartite level should continue to take place in the future.