A common EU policy on asylum will be established during Malta's EU Presidency, the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela, along with his Austrian Counterpart  Wolfgang Sobotka and the Austrian EU Commissioner Johannes, announced during his visit in Austria.

The Minister said that as the current EU President, Malta believes that the current situation on immigration can be solved through a compromise and agreement between EU Member States.

Mr Abela reiterated that the country will do what it can to achieve this agreement, but this all depends on other Member States.



He also said that an important element of the agreement will be the return of migrants who do not qualify for asylum.

There was also a need to have agreements and arrangement with Third World Countries to better address immigration.

Minister Sobotka and Commissioner Hahn both wished the Minister and the Maltese Government luck in the six-month presidency and hoped the country will be able  to achieve good results.

Mr Abela was also invited by the Minister Sobotka for the first concert of the year in Vienna as well as informal lunch with the Austrian Commissioner Johannes Hahn .