[WATCH] Malta expecting action on migrants returns policy

Malta is expecting the European Council to discuss a migrants' returns policy during next December's summit.

During last week's meeting of the EU heads of states and governments, the European leaders agreed to meet in December with a view of taking operational decisions.

Southern EU member states have insisted that irregular migration was a "European problem".

Malta, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said, would be making its case for an effective returns policy - a policy he deems a priority.

The European Council has asked the newly established Task Force for the Mediterranean to identify priority actions for a more efficient short-term use of European policies and tools.

According to the Maltese Prime Minister, meetings have already started taking place in Malta discussing possible short-term measures, one of which was the returns policy.

"We will also be coordinating these proposals with other member states," Joseph Muscat said.

In the upcoming meeting of the Task Force for the Mediterranean, Malta will be insisting that applicants should be repatriated "in the shortest timeframe" should their asylum request be refused.

A second proposal is for member states to be in a position to issue travel documents if the country of origin fails to do so.

Malta would also see that existing agreements - the Cotonou agreement - between countries of origin and the European Union are adhered to. This agreement stipulates that countries that are benefiting from international development aid have to accept back those migrants who were refused asylum in member states.

Other proposals include the setting up of representation offices of countries of origin in front-line states. On Frontex, member states insist that it shouldn't be "a further burden on recipient member states" but should have proper rules of engagement.

Front-line states have also called for closer cooperation between Europe and countries of origin and transit, particularly Libya.