Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola yesterday accused the Prime Minister of raising the temperature over immigration to unprecedented levels and of pandering to the crowds on an emotive topic.

She also appealed for fair-sharing of responsibility among member states, insisting “too little has been done so far”, but stressing that the European Parliament had to remain vigilant over issues of human rights and human dignity.

She also said this situation had brought the issue of Libya to the fore, and the EP should keep helping the North African state build a functioning asylum system.

'Many migrants die in their attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea,” she said, adding this was enough reason to make sure this was tackled in a comprehensive way, and put an end to this phenomenon.