[WATCH] French minister calls on all EU members to host asylum seekers

Every EU member state must take its fair share of asylum seekers, French minister for European affairs Harlem Desir said as he was visiting the Armed Forces of Malta's maritime squad which is frequently involved in rescue operations involving migrants. 

"Each and every EU country must play its part. All states can receive asylum seekers but at the same time we need to strengthen our external borders and send illegal migrants to their countries as long as its done in cooperation with countries of origin," he said as he was speaking aboard an AFM patrol boat. 

While noting that France and Malta are working together to create a Common European policy on migration, Desir said that France itself was prepared to take up to 700 asylum seekers at the moment. 

Asked what are the alternatives to the European Union's plans which are set to be given the thumbs down by the UN security council, Desir said: "We are not asking for military action in Libya and we fully respect the UN envoy Bernardino Leon's mandate to seek political unity in Libya but at same time we need to fight against human traffickers who are sending migrants to death." 

Calling for greater cooperation between EU countries, Desir added that part of the solution to the migration phenomenon lays in resolving political and economical problems in the Middle East and Africa. 

The French minister was accompanied by ho e affairs minister Carmelo Abela who thanked France for its constant support and understanding the challanges facing Malta in migration.