Updated 8.33pm
The European Union needs a "game changer" in its thinking about migration issues if it is to avoid a humanitarian crisis this coming autumn, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has said.
"Without a game changer...there will be many people crossing the Mediterranean and no solutions," Dr Muscat said during a summit of southern EU countries being held in Lisbon, Portugal.
The summit comes just a few days before Malta will host an informal Valletta summit of EU member states, when discussions about migration and the future of the European project are expected to dominate the agenda.
Dr Muscat said he was encouraged by strong coordination between southern European states and said that discussions in Lisbon had been "very frank".
He argued that member states needed to be more determined in seeking potential solutions to the migration issue that has beset European countries since 2015.
The EU's most significant response to the crisis so far has been to strike a deal with Turkey whereby migrants in Greece deemed ineligible for refugee status are returned to Turkey.
In exchange, the EU has eased visa restrictions for Turks, pledged €3 billion in financial aid and agreed to "re-energise" the country's bid for EU membership.
The deal has received criticism from multiple quarters, but Dr Muscat argued that member states should not miss the woods for the trees.
The EU-Turkey agreement "has many problems," the Prime Minister acknowledged, "but it was the only solution. Simply saying 'it's not possible' isn't going to get us anywhere," Dr Muscat said.
'Weakening Europe is not an option'
South European EU leaders, who face risks ranging from Europe's refugee crisis to slow growing economies and high debts, said in a joint declaration agreed upon in Lisbon that they confront a world with "growing uncertainties and instability," making European unity yet more important.
"Weakening Europe is not an option," they said.
The group, which is sometimes referred to as "Club Med", includes France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta and Cyprus.
None of the other leaders spoke directly about US President Donald Trump's administration, but they showed their determination in opposing protectionist trade policies that Trump is promoting.
"We need to develop a robust trade policy based on fair exchanges, the promotion of our standards and the safeguarding or our way of life," the declaration said. "Protectionist reactions are not the right answer."
The Lisbon meeting was the second of what are planned to be regular gatherings.
At the first meeting of the group in September in Athens, the group called for European measures to boost flagging growth. At the time, German officials urged the group not to push for fiscal relaxation of EU rules.
Today, the leaders talked about the need for economic convergence with richer northern European countries and policies to boost growth, but they stressed the need for cooperation with all of Europe at this time of uncertainty.
Still, the clout of the "Club Med" nations is likely to grow as with Britain's departure from the EU it is set to gain a blocking minority on EU policies.