Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech has urged the EU to establish timeframes for measures to tackle irregular migration.

“We need to establish timeframes to implement the action plan prepared by the Task Force,” Mr Grech said during the EU Ministers’ Council, in preparation for the EU Summit, which starts later today.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening engagement with third countries, stressing, in particular, the need for capacity-building assistance to third countries in border management and an effective return flight operations policy.

Mr Grech said the work undertaken by the EU task force on migration should be monitored through regular interim reporting, with a comprehensive and systematic review by the European Council on issues of migration in June.

The importance of interim reporting was echoed by other Member States, including Italy, during the meeting.

Turning to the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), the Deputy Prime Minister said that any proposed “contractual arrangements” between Member States and the Commission within the context of a reinforced EMU, should be mutually agreed with full respect to national competence and the principle of subsidiarity.

Moreover, it was important to have an inclusive approach with involvement of all relevant stakeholders. On “solidarity mechanisms” he added that more work was required to clarify the parameters and modalities of this mechanism. Member States should be involved and regularly consulted to secure commitment and full ownership of the proposed mechanism.