Update 3 - PM: Meeting with Van Rompuy, Libyan Deputy PM 'broke new ground on migration'

“Extremely concrete measures” on immigration were discussed during today’s meeting with EU Council president Herman Van Rompuy and Libya’s deputy Prime Minister, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this afternoon. The Maltese Prime Minister addressed a joint press conference with Mr Van Rompuy in Castille where he revealed that yet another 500 migrants who left Libya were being monitored. “Solutions cannot be found in two days, but the problem has become more serious in these two days,” Dr Muscat said. Asked about the racist backlash that his actions provoked on social media, Dr Muscat said he did not condone “such language” being used by “a tiny minority” of the Maltese. “The huge majority of Maltese are concerned about this issue. I am concerned. This concern should not be mistaken for racism. The Maltese are not a racist people,” he said. Dr Muscat also refuted that on Tuesday his plan to send migrants back to Libya had been “botched”. “We chose our words very carefully. We didn’t exclude any option. No decision had been made until the last minute,” he said. Dr Muscat stressed that the solution on immigration involved Libya and he was glad that the country was showing...