The European Council, meeting in Malta following the conclusion of the Valletta Summit later today, will have to see how the union could internally commit to a purposeful asylum policy, Peter Agius, the head of European Parliament Office in Malta said.

He told timesofmalta.com that the Council was meeting under a very difficult climate with Sweden reintroducing the controls, the Socialist Party in Denmark committing to supporting the government if it reintroduced border controls and Slovenia putting up a wire fence.

This was indicative that the Council would have a very hard nut to crack notwithstanding good outcome of summit, Mr Agius said.

In his comments, Mr Agius noted that money transferring network Western Union extracted eight per cent from the amount sent by migrants in Europe towards their families in Africa.

He hoped for a commitment to reduce the exorbitant percentage to at least three per cent.

When it came to economic migrants - people who were leaving poverty but not persecution and therefore did not qualify for refugee status - he hoped the EU and African countries would concretely discuss the concept of circular migration.

"Migrants who travel to Malta often learn trades and skills. The EU should be discussing the issuing of a five or 10-year work permit after which they would then return to their countries of origin.

"The concept of circular migration also has a development logic to it. After living and working in Brussels, my current work is very much informed and influenced by my time there. In a similar way, let us give them the experience and skills which they may then apply back in Africa."

On employment, he said  there was an element of hypocrisy by Europeans. Europe gorged itself on African resources but employment was then directed towards Europeans. This is the exact opposite of China, which experienced an extraordinary rate of development due to phenomenal employment rates.

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