European Parliament president Martin Schulz eyes Barroso’s seat

Malta has found an ally in European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who has insisted that both Malta and Italy needed the support of their peers to face the migratory pressures.

Schulz, who on Thursday addressed the 28 EU leaders, was vociferous in urging the member states to stop dragging their feet and take on board proposals which both the European Parliament and the European Commission have been putting forward - including greater flexibility within the Dublin system.

"The European Parliament is deeply disappointed that the demand which we and the Commission keep making, for greater flexibility within the Dublin system, falls on deaf ears," Schulz told the Council.

He insisted that while the goal remained long-term objectives, yet short-term measures had to be taken on board as well.

"We need immediate humanitarian aid for those affected. In the long-term, neither Italy nor Malta can provide the necessary emergency aid alone," he said.

Schulz said that the EU could not remain idle while the Mediterranean was turning into a graveyard.

"At least 20,000 people have died over the past 20 years while attempting to reach Europe's coasts. We cannot allow yet more to die," he said.

Schulz, favoured to become the new President of the European Commission in next year's elections, has taken a solid position is favour of sharing of responsibility, the reform of the Dublin II convention and the creation of legal migration channels into the EU.

"We should support the Mediterranean states in taking in refugees and arranging a fair allocation between the member states: this is called European solidarity and that is what must be on our agenda for today," he said on Thursday.

Migration was then discussed on Friday morning, with EU leaders agreeing to meet again in December to discuss "operational decisions".

The European Parliament has adopted Eurosur, a rescue system for ships in trouble at sea which will be operational in less than two months' time. It will however continue fighting for adequate funding, especially for Frontex.

Every year, the Council seeks to reduce funds for Frontex, whose role is to promote, coordinate and develop European border management. And every year gives way to a European Parliament fight to defend the funds.

Although improvements to the EU asylum regulations have already been decided upon, these have not yet been implemented. These included provisions for improving reception conditions.

The European Parliament had also called for a temporary suspension mechanism which would have made it possible to temporarily suspend transfers of asylum seekers where a member state is faced with an "exceptionally" heavy burden on its reception capacities, asylum system or infrastructure.

Schulz also made a pitch for not reducing any international aid to third countries, most of which would be the country of origin for many irregular migrants.

"Combating the causes for which refugees flee their home countries is of course the right thing to aim for. However, one may doubt whether this aim can be achieved by cutting international aid - as has just happened in the multiannual financial framework."

Describing Europe as a continent of immigration, Schulz said a legal migration system was required as a response to human traffickers. With proposals for the regulation of legal immigration already in the legislative pipeline, Schulz said these should be adopted without delay.

"Europe cannot save everyone and cannot take in everyone. But we are the richest continent in the world. We can do more if we look together for solutions and shoulder our responsibilities together."