European Commission President José Manuel Barroso intends calling on other EU states to help Malta deal with its illegal immigration woes at next week's European Council.
Mr Barroso met member states' permanent representatives in Brussels on Thursday and asked them to relay to their governments the message that it was high time that the much-touted solidarity is translated into concrete help for Malta.
It was a short official visit for the former Portuguese Prime Minister, but it was enough for the local authorities to make it clear that Malta cannot continue policing the Mediterranean.
The message seems to have come across as Mr Barroso promised the Maltese people that the European Commission would continue doing everything it could within its powers, even if it was a complex issue.
During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Mr Barroso acknowledged that the problem of illegal immigration had stretched the island's resources well beyond their limit. He even paid tribute to the Armed Forces of Malta for their sterling work - a far cry to the international media's accusing fingers.
Mr Barroso refused to be drawn into controversy when asked by The Times whether he deemed it hypocritical that some of the EU states accusing Malta for not doing enough to rescue people in distress were not even willing to contribute to Frontex, the EU's border agency.
However, he urged Europeans to realise the dimension of Malta's challenge; that its search and rescue area was the size of Great Britain.
He said Frontex, whose patrols will be in operation by the end of the month, is trying to boost its response. The European Commission has also put forward a proposal for legislation to make it a crime for employers to engage illegal immigrants. At the same time the EU was taking political and diplomatic initiatives in the countries of origin to introduce readmission agreements.
Mr Barroso said that he intended to attend the African Union summit on July 3 to try and tackle the problem at source, adding that he also wanted to hold discussions with Libya.
Ultimately, though, Malta's problem stresses the need for EU states to recognise the need for a common European migration policy, Mr Barroso said.
As the protection of borders remains to a large extent in the hands of member states, it is "absurd" for Europe to operate 27 migration policies. Yet, countries like the UK continue opposing such a common integrated policy.
During the Constitutional Treaty discussions next week, Mr Barroso intends asking member states to again consider the proposal for justice and home affairs issues to fall within the jurisdiction of the EU.
Dr Gonzi urged the EU to draw up clear guidelines that would determine, for example, whether a member state should intervene in incidents that take place in rescue waters of third countries. Malta has maintained that the recent incidents, which prompted international criticism, had in fact taken place in Libyan rescue waters.
"Malta has always gone out to save people in distress in every single circumstance, even though we have limited resources. We need to see who will integrate those who are given official refugee or humanitarian status.
That's the question everybody needs to answer, including the UNHCR," Dr Gonzi said.
Mr Barroso also spoke of the importance of settling the details of the Constitutional Treaty at next week's EU summit.
"We need to settle it. I ask all member states to show a spirit of compromise while at the same time committing more to Europe. More than ever, we need a Europe that needs to take decisions in an efficient manner, a Europe that is more transparent and coherent," Mr Barroso said.
Malta is being an active member of the EU and bringing a new dimension to it, the Commission boss said, singling out Dr Gonzi for particular praise.
After an address to Parliament in the morning, Mr Barroso proceeded on foot to Caffe Cordina for refreshments.
Among those who joined him were Jesuit priest Pierre Grech Marguerat, Housing Authority chairman Marisa Micallef, EU delegation head in Malta Joanna Drake and environmental campaigner Astrid Vella.
Waving to cheering passers-by, Mr Barroso then proceeded to St John's Co-Cathedral as tourists snapped away.