“Yesterday's​ Summit in Malta is to be welcomed, but it must be more than just another 10-point plan. It is high time that words are translated into concrete action,” the Nationalist Party said today.

EU leaders yesterday approved an additional €200 million for projects to close down the Libyan migrant routes.

But the PN warned today that things “will not change from one day to the next and EU leaders must be careful not to give the impression that any newly issued 10-point plan will provide a quick-fix solution in addressing migration flows from Libya. We have been here before and previous okans have yielded little result.

It is only with a functioning Libyan State that the EU will ever have a proper chance to agree together on enhanced cooperation to sustainably and safely manage migration flows, defeat terror, destroy trafficking networks’ business models and ultimately save lives.

This is a lengthy process and there are many steps yet to be taken before there are proper functioning State apparatus in Libya.

Any long-term approach to saving more lives in the Mediterranean must therefore involve cooperation with all safe Mediterranean States, including Libya. But the situation in Libya remains precarious at present.

The EU must stand ready to help be part of the solution. It has a crucial role in helping with aid and expertise in helping Libya to build up their border management, their asylum systems, improve their law enforcement capabilities and help in its fight against terrorism,” the PN said.