Valletta, Malta - Malta has won a pledge from France to support it in winning European Union assistance in dealing with the problem of illegal immigration. French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, also underlined the need for common EU rules on immigration, following talks with Maltese Prime Minister, Lawrence Gonzi, on Thursday evening.
The French premier stopped over for a few hours in Malta as part of a tour of EU member states ahead of France's taking over of the 27-nation bloc's rotating presidency in July.
Fillon said the EU needs halt the current situation where different countries were adopting different rules on migration.
France agreed with Malta on the need for more effective measures for the repatriation of illegal immigrants, Fillon said.
"Indeed, France is prepared to take its share of the burden as long as this is compatible with what is going on in the rest of Europe," Fillon said.
"We cannot cope on its own," said Gonzi, referring to the thousands of would-be immigrants intercepted by Malta every year as they try to reach the European mainland by sea from North Africa.
Earlier this week three bodies believed to those of people of African origin were recovered in waters off Malta, raising concern of a possible shipwreck involving would-be immigrants.
EU border patrols off the coast of Malta are due to start next week following an agreement reached between Malta, France, Italy and Germany, the Times of Malta daily reported on Friday.
Originally, the patrolling mission, named Nautilus III, was scheduled to begin on April 22 but was postponed at following disagreement over who should assume the final responsibility for the repatriation of the would-be immigrants.
