The temporary burden-sharing sharing programme on illegal immigration announced by the EU earlier this month could become permanent after a clause was inserted into the Union's new five-year plan on justice and security.
A Commission official told The Sunday Times: "The Commission is displaying its intention to help Malta on a permanent basis. That is why the need for more solidarity and burden-sharing between member states has been inserted in our five-year objectives in the justice area."
The EU Stockholm programme is a five-year strategy with precise goals in the areas of freedom, justice and security through the introduction of new rules and programmes. The plan has to be endorsed by member states by the end of this year.
The Stockholm programme includes the creation of a Schengen visa, the strengthening of the Frontex border control agency, a common framework for immigration, and responsibility-sharing for the refugee reception and integration.
Currently, the EU cannot oblige member states to take asylum seekers, but the blueprint states that "there should be a common area of protection and solidarity through a single procedure and uniform international protection rules".
Until now, member states have sought shelter behind the voluntary nature of such solidarity.
France and Germany have expressed willingness to take refugees from Malta, but they refuse to be instructed to do so. Italy and Malta, on the other hand, are pressuring the Commission to propose a mandatory mechanism.
"Apart from launching our temporary pilot project, so that refugees and other people with humanitarian status on the island can move and resettle in other member states, we want this system to become a permanent structure as we believe that this is the way forward so that member states can share responsibility," the Commission official said.
Another EU official said that although EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot is working on a pilot project for the distribution of refugees to ease the pressure on Malta, he is sticking to the line of a voluntary system.
"Although he already knows that there will be opposition by certain member states, particularly the northern ones, Mr Barrot's proposals still go beyond the bilateral aspect of this solidarity, mentioning the precise establishment of a voluntary mechanism for redistribution between member states and common treatment of asylum requests," the official said.
According to the draft proposals, in the longer term the Commission will be calling for "mutual recognition of all protection decisions, which will facilitate protection transfers". The proposals state that a redistribution mechanism must be considered and give details on how this should be done.
An initial voluntary stage would provide financial support for this initiative from the European Refugee Fund. Permanent platforms for reception and transit could also be developed in certain member states, as well as specific arrangements for a partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Next year the EU is aiming to set up a European asylum support office to provide technical assistance to those member states most affected by immigration problems.
Malta has shown interest in hosting this new EU agency; however, a decision has not yet been taken.