Borg, Terzi agree on ‘common ground’ to address migration issues

Malta and Italy have expressed a commitment to build on "common ground" that will delve into opportunities for deeper cooperation between the two in maritime issues concerning migration in the Mediterranean.

Foreign minister Tonio Borg met his Italian counterpart Giulio Terzi in Rome as President George Abela is currently on a State Visit to Italy.

On Wednesday, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano spoke on the excellent relations between the two countries, but urged both sides to stop  "bouncing migration problems onto each other."

Malta and Italy are in disagreement over the interpretation of maritime law governing the search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

While Malta insists that it coordinates the rescues within its vast search and rescue area, it believes that migrants are to be taken to the closest, safest port. But Italy, which has declared Lampedusa a "not-safe" port and closed its migrat facilities, insists that once Malta coordinates the rescue, it must accept the migrants to its territory.

Borg and Terzi discussed this issue at length, and have reportedly agreed to hold further dialogue and find solutions to the impasse.

Meanwhile, Borg and Terzi discussed developments in the Maghreb region following the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

Terzi has also expressed support for Malta who will be holding the 5 5 heads of governments meeting in Valletta in October.