Berlusconi tells Gonzi, ‘I’m coming to Malta... to revive my good times’

Speaking during a joint press conference with Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi following official talks at Villa Madama in Rome, Berlusconi dwelt on illegal immigration, and hailed his government’s achievement by reaching an agreement with Tripoli for the immediate repatriation of migrants intercepted at sea.

Countries like Malta – Berlusconi said – have benefitted immensely from the Italo-Libyan agreement to the extent that migrant arrivals were almost zero this year.

The Italian premier stressed that illegal immigration is a “common EU problem” that must be tackled as a community.

Both Berlusconi and Gonzi were tough on the EU, insisting that “Europe must work out a common, credible strategy to counter the phenomenon.”

They stressed that it was “unacceptable” that the EU considers migration as a southern Mediterranean problem.

Meanwhile, both leaders expressed satisfaction at the ‘excellent’ relations that Malta and Italy share.

Prime Minister Gonzi augured that the Mediterranean Union will serve to create more dialogue between EU-Mediterranean states, and the neighbouring countries.

During the talks, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Foreign minister Tonio Borg and Home affairs minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, while Prime Minister Berlusconi was accompanied by foreign minister Franco Frattini, home affairs minister Roberto Maroni, and defense minister Ignazio La Russa.