Labour MEP Miriam Dalli has called for urgent EU action on irregular migration, especially in view of the tragedies in the Mediterranean and the unprecedented number of arrivals in recent days.

She was speaking during a meeting the EP committee responsible for migration had with Matthias Ruete, the European Commission director general of home affairs.

The meeting discussed the commission’s document on the work of the Mediterranean task force.

She said that while the pilot projects that were identified were a positive step which would help the EU analyse the situation better, the union had to see that these were followed up by concrete initiatives.

She appealed to the Commission to plan a follow-up to the pilot project so that no more time would be wasted.