Infringement procedures against Malta and 18 other EU states have been instituted by the European Commission for failing to implement common asylum procedures.

Malta received a letter of formal notice for failing to inform the commission of measures to transpose the Asylum Procedures Directive and the Reception Conditions Directive into national law, which it was obliged to do by July 20.

The two directives set clearer rules on how to apply for asylum and establish common minimum standards for the reception of applicants for international protection across all member states.

The government now has two months to respond to commission. Failure to do so could eventually lead to the case being referred to the European Court of Justice.

Addressing the press during the European Council meeting on migration in Brussels this evening, Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the procedures were launched after several member states requested the Commission to ensure the directives were actually being introduced in national laws.

“Normally we do not inform the public or the press about these infringement procedures, but we had to show that we are insisting on the necessity of the same rules being applied everywhere in Europe,” Mr Juncker said.

“Member states were not surprised by this; they knew where they were failing and it is the Commission's duty to follow up.”

Speaking to journalists this evening, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that one of the two directives was at the final stage of transposition while the other was being discussed in cabinet.

“In principle we agree, but we cannot just say yes to any law," Dr Muscat said.

"There are issues where we need to ensure we have the necessary infrastructure in place. However, I don't foresee any obstacles to the transposition taking place in the near future."