PM of Malta: EU concerned about some decisions by US Admin.

BRUSSELS, Feb 3 (KUNA) -- Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, whose country holds the current EU Presidency, stressed Friday on need to engage with new US administration although there were concern over some of its decisions.
"There was concern among the EU 28 on some decisions being taken by the new US administration and also some attitudes being adopted by the administration," he told a press conference after an informal summit of EU leaders in Valletta, Malta this evening.
"Nevertheless, there was no sense of anti-Americanism. There was a sense that we need to engage with the US just the same but we need to show that we cannot stay silent where there are principles involved," he added.
On his part, the President of the EU Council, Donald Tusk, told the joint press conference that "the developments on the international scene remind us of how important a strong EU is. Transatlantic co-operation remains an absolute priority because it has until now been a key pillar of the free world. At the same we know that today we have no other option than to regain confidence in our own strength." Migration was the main theme of the one-day summit. The EU leaders also discussed the future of the EU in the afternoon session.
"We have agreed on immediate operational measures that should help reduce the number of irregular migrants and save lives at the same time. We will train, equip and support the Libyan coast guard to stop smugglers and increase search and rescue operations. We will deliver economic assistance to local communities in Libya to improve their situation, and help them shelter stranded migrants," said Tusk. (end) nk.bs