The EU is not seeking a UN mandate to get militarily involved in Libya but it wants to target the criminal networks that smuggle people across the Mediterranean, according to the French European Affairs Minister.

Harlem Desir said there was only a political solution to the situation in Libya, which he likened to a failed state, as he drew a distinction between internal political strife and illegal migration.

“France supports UN representative Bernardino Leon’s mandate to bring all Libyan sides together in a national unity government but we want to target the criminal networks that are pushing people to certain death,” he said yesterday during a visit to Malta.

His comments came on the same day that EU High Representative Federica Mogherini was making the case in front of the UN Security Council for a mandate to target criminal networks inside Libyan territory.

Mr Desir said France supported a quota system for the distribution of migrants coming to the EU.

The proposal for a mandatory quota system put forward by the European Commission is expected to be discussed tomorrow but has already been shot down by the UK and Hungary.

Mr Desir insisted it would be wrong for any member state to believe migration was a national issue. He said migrants entering the EU were not coming to one particular country but wanted to come to Europe.

France supported a common migration policy that would include a distribution mechanism among all member states of genuine asylum seekers and a joint effort to repatriate those who do not deserve protection.

Mr Desir made his comments on board an Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat during a visit to the maritime squadron with Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela.

He expressed solidarity with Malta and said French navy vessels would be heading to the central Mediterranean as part of the Frontex mission to save lives at sea.