The European Court of Human Rights should not have to remind Malta of its humanitarian obligations, according to MEPs who signed a declaration condemning refugee push-backs.

The declaration, drafted by head of the Nationalist EP delegation, David Casa, condemned the Government’s “intentions”. Arrangements were being made on Tuesday to send a group of irregular migrants back to Libya before it was blocked by the ECHR acting on an application filed on behalf of the Jesuit Refugee Service and a coalition of NGOs.

Among the signatories of the declaration was the German Liberal Party’s spokeswoman on migration, Nadja Hirsch, who said the Maltese government needed reminding that the EU was more than just a common market.

She did not mince her words on the issue of push-backs, condemning it as a “gross violation of several international and EU laws”.

“Pushing back refugees is simply not acceptable. I don’t see why the ECHR should have to remind Malta of that.”

Ms Hirsch recognised that the island was dependant on EU member states’ solidarity and highlighted flaws in the burden-sharing framework.

“Dublin is crumbling,” she said, referring to the proposed restructuring of the Dublin II burden sharing framework.

“Malta would no longer be left alone as asylum seekers will be distributed equally across member states according to their population and economic power,” Ms Hirsch said.

Labour MEPs said they were disappointed that their PN counterparts seemed more concerned with capitalising on a “sad situation” rather than focusing on finding a solution to a national problem.