24/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - After his recent visit to Malta, Immigration Commissioner Jacques Barrot wrote to his fellow commissioners calling on them to look at granting additional funds to Malta to help the country in its effort to repatriate illegal migrants and to improve the conditions in which migrants and asylum seekers are held. On Wednesday 18 March, Malta and Libya signed a memorandum of understanding to coordinate efforts made by the two countries when the life of migrants is at risk in the Mediterranean. Both parties agreed that the relevant authorities should work together during search and rescue operations. They also agreed to authorise their rescue coordination centre (RCC) to request assistance via the RCC of the other country and to provide all information on the distress situation in their respective search and rescue region. (B.C./transl.jl)