Updated | EU has to take action by December, says Muscat on migration

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat wants the the European Union to take its first concrete action on irregular migration by December.

Addressing the Maltese media in Brussels late this evening, Muscat said there were a number of EU leaders who, like him, will not hold back from expressing their opposition if the Council conclusions were to be unsatisfactory.

"There is a resolve among a number of prime ministers not to mince our words if the conclusions fail to be satisfactory. We will be very clear in our position," Muscat said, admitting that Malta's fight was an uphill struggle.

He also insisted that Malta would not wait until the migration summit to be held in June to see the EU "turning its words into action".

"Fact is that the Lithuanian Presidency's conclusion on migration was unacceptable," Muscat said.

Describing the original conclusion as "one sentence of condolences", the proposed draft conclusion included a proposal for a returns policy, the implementation of return flights by Frontex, the sharing of responsibility - rather than burden sharing - and prevention measures.

This was the first time that prevention of irregular migration is being mentioned.

The proposed draft conclusion was prepared on Monday during the meetings which Muscat held with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and continued during the meeting held between Samaras and the Italian Premier, Enrico Letta.

Spearheaded by Malta, Muscat was said to have entreated eight countries - which already include Italy, Greece, Spain and France - to support the proposed draft conclusion on migration.

According to Muscat, the support for this conclusion has gained momentum and Malta, supported by Italy and Greece, are rallying for a solid position by December.

"It is not on that a group of member states don't want to budge on this issue. The jury is still out on whether the proposed draft conclusions will be accepted. But by December we want changes," he said.

According to Muscat, this bloc of countries opposed the proposals "on principle" and were happier to fork out money.

Asked whether he was still ready to play the veto card, Muscat said he "won't rule anything out".

Muscat appeared to be dissatisfied with the first task force meeting - also proposed by Malta, Italy and Greece during a Council meeting of home affairs ministers.

"The first meeting of this task force does not augur well as many repeated the same things we have long been hearing," he said.

Earlier today, the prime minister called for a United Nations force that can control Libya's ports and irregular migration routes.

"Malta is not a superpower; Italy cannot do everything on its own and Europe cannot agree on the rules of engagement. We simply cannot go on with Italy and ourselves carrying the burden alone. A United Nations force would enjoy everyone's trust," he said.

Muscat also said there should be further collaboration between the European Union and the UNHCR, and cooperation with the African Union.

Malta, he added, believed that if country of origins refused to issue documentation for the repatriation of irregular migrants refused asylum, that Europe and member states should be in a position to issue that documentation themselves.

The prime minister was also asked whether he believed Malta was among the countries allegedly being tapped by the United States. Sharing a light moment with the press, Muscat said that if the US were tapping his calls, "then they really didn't have anything better to do".

But on a more serious note, Muscat said there were several prime ministers who were concerned. "For many, this has signified a breach of trust."

Upon his arrival to the council, the prime minister said it was "quite surreal" that at a time when Europe was discussing the human tragedies following the Lampedusa deaths and the tapping of German Chancellor's Angela Merkel phone, the European Council this evening will focus on digital economy.

"It's quite surreal that we get to discuss digital economy. It's... it's very interesting," Muscat commented, sarcastically.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil - also in Brussels for a summit of the European People's Party (EPP) - was not expecting any "magical solutions" on migration.

"I do not perceive any magical solutions coming out of the summit. There is no magic wand to stop people leaving Somalia or Libya," Busuttil told MaltaToday.

He added that Muscat had "nevertheless bound himself not to leave the summit without solutions".

"The ball is in his court. But so far all we have had were empty words and cowboy tactics that cause more damage and certainly do not do our reputation in Europe any good."

Addressing the press after meeting the European leaders, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said it was important that the European Union focused on a refugee policy which would help provide shelter to civilians fleeing war zones.

"Many of these people do not want to permanently leave their country but seek temporary shelter until the civil war in their country is over," Schulz said.

He argued that a proper immigration system would give refugees "proper hope rather than leaving them in a vacuum ending up in traffickers' hands in order to get to Europe".