Hopes that Malta would get help to relocate irregular migrants were dashed as “harsh resistance” forced a change of plans.

Speaking at the European Parliament, European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said the Commission would not deliver on its 2011 promise to propose a permanent, voluntary scheme and complained it was a non-starter.

Following an influx of irregular migrants to Malta some years ago and intense pressure by the island’s authorities for “concrete solidarity” by the EU, the Commission, in 2009, had launched a pilot project called Eurema, specifically designed for member states to relocate asylum seekers from Malta.

The voluntary scheme provided financial compensation for countries relocating recognised refugees and people with international protection.

Following more pressure and European Parliament intervention, the Commission announced in 2011 that it would make a legislative proposal to make the scheme permanent.

Although the EU executive had promised to make the proposal last year, it postponed its launch, until this latest decision was announced.

Ms Malmström said Brussels would now propose an annual forum to discuss transfers of refugees among EU countries.

“Although through Eurema we have managed to help Malta a little bit, even though our expectations were higher, we will not be making a proposal for a permanent scheme because the huge majority of member states are adamantly opposed to this idea,” she told MEPs.

“We have to take into account political reality. There is no chance that such a proposal will be approved by the Council if proposed.”

To be approved, a legislative proposal for a permanent voluntary relocation scheme would need the backing of the 27 member states.

Launched in 2009, the Eurema project was extended for another year in 2010 to give member states the opportunity to improve their offers of help to Malta.

With the exception of Germany and France, few member states showed any interest and fewer than 300 migrants were effectively relocated.

MEPs criticised the Commission’s decision not to continue with its plans, stating that although a forum would be a good initiative this did not replace a permanent scheme. Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola said Malta expected “concrete action”.

“The solution cannot be a transitory or temporary one. A permanent scheme would create an efficient mechanism that would cut excessive bureaucracy and facilitate the relocation of beneficiaries of international protection,” she said.

Her comments were mirrored by many other MEPs, including Socialist Sylvie Guillaume, who accused member states of lip-service on solidarity.

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