Council president Tusk for Malta visit: Libya, terrorism and illegal immigration on the agenda

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, will be visiting Malta, Spain and Tunisia next week over two days between 30-31 March.

"Next week in Malta, Spain, Tunisia to discuss how EU can help stabilise region, fight terrorism and illegal immigration," Tusk announced on Twitter.

Tusk heads the European Council - the institution that sets the EU's political direction and priorities. He is responsible for preparing and chairing meetings of the institution. He also ensures the external representation of the EU's common foreign and security policy at his level.

Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, will discuss regional stability, irregular migration and terrorist threats.

The EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, will join his visit to Tunisia.

Europe views Instability in the southern Mediterranean as a serious threat. In June 2014, the European Council made it one of its strategic priorities to ensure effective EU cooperation on security issues, such as terrorism and the management of migration flows.

In February 2015, following the terrorist attacks in Paris and Copenhagen, the EU leaders agreed an ambitious workplan on how to step up the fight against terrorism and extremist violence.

And in March this year, the EU leaders discussed the crisis in Libya and its regional, international dimension. During his visit to US President Obama, President Tusk also said that the EU will step up its support to Libya.