Malta should not expect any real progress from the Danish EU presidency on burden sharing when addressing the migration problem.

This was evident on Thursday when Brussels-based journalists met Danish Justice Minister Morten Bodskov who will be in charge of the migration issue until June.

He pledged to do everything possible to promote more solidarity among member states, particularly those such as Malta and Italy that bear the biggest brunt of illegal migratory flows from North Africa. However, he avoided questions by The Times and Italian journalists on the issue.

Denmark has always been one of the biggest sceptics of the concept of burden sharing. Mr Bodskov would not say whether Denmark would be reviewing its policy in the coming six months.

He also refused to be drawn into a commitment to take part in the European Commission’s intra-EU relocation programme for Malta, called Eurema, where the EU Executive gives specific financial assistance for every person relocated from Malta to another EU state.

“We will wear the hat of the EU presidency and try to boost consensus,” he kept repeating when pressed for clear answers.

Reminded of Denmark’s and other Nordic EU member states’ reluctance to help southern states affected by the influx of illegal immigrants, the minister would only say “Denmark will do its duty to build consensus”.

At the end of last year, the Commission had tabled a proposal aimed at transforming the intra-EU relocation pilot project for Malta into a permanent one. Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström had announced that “the time for talk” was over as she pressed for a permanent mechanism to help countries like Malta and Italy.

But the plan, which needs the agreement of all member states, is not expected to make much progress in the coming six months due to the Danish traditional lack of enthusiasm on the matter.

During the first phase of the Eurema project, which lasted for 24 months until last June, 227 persons were relocated by only six member states.

The Commission tried to boost participation further but, despite additional pledges, only a handful of member states participated.

Throughout the programme, more refugees were relocated from Malta by the US than by European countries, putting the EU’s solidarity initiative to shame.

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