Under-secretary’s threat to Malta ‘not government’s position’ – Franco Frattini

The statement comes as foreign Minister Tonio Borg tackled the threat with his Italian counterpart on the margins of the EU Council that is meeting in Luxembourg.

A senior government spokesman told MaltaToday that minister Borg discussed the latest developments with Frattini over migrants rescue during a very cordial meeting.

“Although both sides disagreed on the interpretation on maritime laws, there is agreement that both countries must not tarnish their relations over the Lampedusa incident,” the spokesman said.

Last Sunday,  the Italian under-secretary for economic development Stefano Saglia has threatened Malta with the withdrawal of works on the Malta-Sicily electrical cable if the island doesn’t “play its part” on immigration.

Italian newspaper La Stampa reported Saglia saying that it is “obvious” that relations between Malta and Italy – after the controversial blockade by Italy at Lampedusa to asylum seekers saved by Malta – “must measure up to some reciprocal trust.”

Saglia added that Malta should play its part “or else risk putting up for discussion strategic, industrial and energy projects, starting from the submarine interconnector to Ragusa... it’s the only way they have to export energy, and for us it is actually irrelevant. We might change our idea on its realisation.”

Italy and Malta have clashed on who should rescue migrants fleeing North Africa, often in rickety, overloaded boats. On Friday, the UN refugee agency called for a better maritime rescue system.

Malta obtained €20 million of EU funds for the project, thanks to Italian support, and a technical working group between the Maltese network and Italy's electricity grid operator Terna has been set up, Saglia said.