The meeting, which started on Sunday, saw European Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini urging member states to step-up their efforts in the fight against illegal immigration and strengthen Frontex.

"Frontex is going to write to member states to ask for their contribution. We need helicopters, boats and planes", Mr Frattini said at the press conference on Sunday. According to EUObserver, he furthermore added that without the help of member states "it will be very difficult to avoid the new streams of immigrants in April, May and June."

It is expected that the pressure on Malta, among other southern and south-eastern European countries will mount, as many Africans take advantage of favourable weather conditions and cross over.

The proposed new EU regulation governing legal jurisdiction in cases of cross border divorces is also set to be discussed during the course of the meeting which ends on Tuesday. Germany has tabled a proposal to simplify the application of divorce law across the bloc, as 170,000 out of 845,000 divorces annually now involve couples of different nationalities. However, a number of countries, including Malta, find the proposal in conflict with their national law.

Recently, Malta, which does not permit divorce, asked the European Union (EU) to give legal assurance that the divorce proposal will not be applicable to the island. German Minister for Justice, Brigitte Zypries said that a solution "designed for Malta's needs" is on the drawing board.

Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature: Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.

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Solution underway for divorce proposal demands - Jan 13, 2007 - 11:01:41 AM