[WATCH] 'Bizarre for Germany to criticise Malta's detention centres' - German President

German President refuses to criticise Malta's detention centres.

German President Joachim Gauck refused to criticise the state of Malta's detention centres, arguing that it would be "bizarre" for him to grade the way Malta has handled its influx of undocumented migrants.

He was responding to a German journalist who had asked him whether he thinks that Malta's detention centres are "the right way to welcome migrants to Europe".

"I am aware of the international criticism that has been aired at Malta's detention centres but let's be fair, Germany has never been tested to Malta's limits," Gauck responded. "It has not been flooded with refugees, so we can't say that we have found the ideal solution.

"It would be bizarre for the president of the largest EU country to turn up at the doorstep of the smallest EU country, one that is facing an excessively high burden, and grade its performance."

Gauck, who is currently on a state visit to Malta, was addressing a press conference at the Valletta Palace following a tête-à-tête meeting with Maltese President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca. During the meeting, the two discussed migration, Libya, Tunisia, and Germany's vocational educational system. 

Gauck said that the purpose of his visit to Malta is to learn how the country has "remarkably" handled its immigration influx. Tomorrow, he will visit the Marsa open centre and hold a meeting with NGOs who work with migrants.

He called on the European Union to intensify its dialogue with the migrants' countries of origin and the African Union. 

However, he warned that the Mediterranean's migration problem is a "humanitarian" issue to which Europe must respond "in accordance with its values". 

"European countries must recognize their responsibility for the safety of these refugees," he said, while calling on the EU to intensify its discussions on the possibility of opening up legal channels for refugees.

He pointed out that Germany has already taken in a substantial number of refugees, including some from Malta. 

"While it may only be a three digit number, it is an expression of our willingness to do what we can," he said. 

He argued that Germany is facing migration problems from two fronts - people fleeing from war-torn third countries and people from Balkan countries seeking a "better economic life". 

"This has a negative effect on the public debate," Gauck admitted. "However, public opinion is changing its approach and starting to realize that these migrants are in need of help. Politicians will respond to this."

Coleiro Preca similarly said that a European-Mediterranean dialogue will not be enough to tackle the migration problem. 

"Many migrants come to Europe from further south in Africa and further east in Asia," she pointed out. "Today's meeting was an appetizer, but at least it showed that a sense of commitment exists between Malta and Germany to encourage the EU to adopt a more holistic immigration policy."