Migrants disembarking from the Panamanian ship Dignity 1 in the Sicilian harbour of Pozzallo, Italy, earlier this week. Photo: Antonio Parrinello/Reuters

The migration problem was on the agenda of the EU summit but details were sparse, as the summit ran on late into the night.

However, a leaked draft of the conclusions includes a pledge to set up centres to fingerprint and register migrants, with more powers given to the EU border agency, Frontex, to deport people.

Containing illegal migration should be the “priority” of EU leaders during the summit, EU President Donald Tusk said.

“Today I expect the EU Council to send a strong message to all those who are not legitimate asylum seekers that they will have no guarantee that they will stay in Europe. Only with this message can we make real progress on the Italy and Greece relocation.”

Brussels is trying to spread the distribution of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing poverty and war in Africa and the Middle East by going to Europe. Governments across the continent, from Italy to Greece to Hungary, say the system to tackle migration is broken.

But Mr Tusk made it clear that, as much as the EU was willing to help those who deserve protection, it would be adopting a hard line towards failed asylum seekers.

Mr Tusk said that, while there was no consensus by EU states on mandatory quotas for migrants, doing nothing was not an option.

“Solidarity without a sacrifice is pure hypocrisy,” he told reporters. So far the first implementation package proposes the emergency relocation of 40,000 persons in clear need of international protection from Italy and Greece. Italy estimates some 60,000 people have made it across the Mediterranean so far this year. Almost 2,000 have died in the attempt.

Solidarity without a sacrifice is pure hypocrisy

Meanwhile, there are unlikely to be any changes to the contested Dublin regulation for the time being. Under EU rules, migrants must apply for asylum in the first member state they enter. If they move on to another EU country, they can be sent back to the country where they entered.

During a news briefing, EU officials did not rule out changes to the Dublin regulation but said any changes would take a long time.

Excerpts of draft conclusions:

• The relocation of 40,000 persons in need of protection over two years from Italy and Greece to other member states. All states to agree on distribution by the end of July.

• Setting up structured border zones and facilities in frontline states to ensure swift identification, registration and fingerprinting of migrants.

• Frontex regulations to be amended, notably to strengthen its role in return missions.

• A conference, meant to be held in Malta in November, will aim to strengthen cooperation on an effective return policy. It will also aim to target development cooperation and enhance investment in Africa to address the root causes of migration.

• Member states to allocate a sufficient level of expenditure for defence.