The Prime Minister believes the EU’s migration plan to save lives and target human smugglers is the most “ambitious” proposal ever tabled but has been careful not to raise expectations.

“In my opinion, the real positive thing is that, for the first time, we’re discussing concrete solutions rather than just platitudes,” Joseph Muscat said.

In Qatar to address the Doha Forum, Dr Muscat has been closely following the latest developments on the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean after nearly 2,000 migrants died this year attempting to flee Libya for Europe.

During the forum, Somali Foreign Affairs Minister Abdu Salam took the opportunity to thank Malta and Italy for saving the lives of Somali migrants escaping extremism and economic problems in the aftermath of civil war “without fanfare”. “Young generations are facing a situation of hopelessness. We’re working tirelessly to solve the problem but it’s like we’re trying to fly and fix a plane and, at the same time, we’re running out of fuel and trying to land,” Dr Salam said about the dire situation in his country.

This is not a pilot project or a pact with political niceties that doesn’t bite

On Monday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urged the UN Security Council to back Brussels’ plans to save lives and use military force to dismantle criminal organisations exploiting people’s desperation.

Dr Muscat said this sent a strong signal and, although the matter was still not resolved, the information he had indicated that there was a clear game plan and the situation was in hand.

The draft plan – which was being revised by the College of Commissioners yesterday – includes a mandatory migrant quota system among member states, which is hotly contested by countries such as the UK, Hungary and Slovakia.

Details of the operation are still being worked out and the issue will be discussed by European foreign ministers on Monday. On the same day, a meeting of like-minded Arab countries is also planned to discuss some sort of intervention in Libya.

Dr Muscat is not disheartened by the resistance of some EU members to the proposed quota system and acknowledges that migration is a thorny issue in every country and viewed from a national perspective.

“While there are countries vehemently against, there are also those rooting for it, and it’s not just the usual suspects – the Italians or ourselves. This time there’s Germany, and I believe even the French attitude is moderately positive,” he told Maltese journalists.

“This is not a pilot project or a pact with political niceties that doesn’t bite. This is the first time there is an attempt at a comprehensive solution towards some sort of redistribution.”

The proposal to militarily target smugglers has raised concerns and Amnesty International this week warned that, without alternative solutions, migrants and refugees could be trapped in Libya and exposed to serious human rights abuses.

Does Dr Muscat believe this is the solution?

“There isn’t one solution – saving lives. Is it enough? No it isn’t. The destruction of smugglers’ boats will have an impact; annihilating supply hurts the criminals.

“It’s not a solution on its own, and neither are life-saving rescue missions, but it’s the most ambitious plan ever tabled for discussion,” he said.

Asked during the forum if he felt that the EU was doing enough to address the problem and whether this was simply a firefighting exercise, Dr Muscat conceded the system was “broken” and firefighting was important at the moment.

“We’re not celebrating any victory at this point in time. We have to wait and see.”

France ‘appreciates difficulties’

French European Affairs Undersecretary Harlem Desir said yesterday he appreciated the difficulties Malta faced in terms of irregular migration.

He praised Malta’s active role in Mediterranean affairs and commended the various international initiatives being planned for the coming months.

At a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella, they said both countries were following very closely the work within the EU and the United Nations after the urgent EU leaders’ meeting to discuss ways of curbing human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants into Europe.