Leaders meeting at the upcoming EU summit must reform the so-called Dublin system to make solidarity among all EU member states as a top priority, Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola said on Tuesday, in the wake of the Aquarius saga. 

Dr Metsola was chairing a meeting with European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, the Bulgarian Presidency and European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopolous two days after Italy barred its ports to a group of 629 migrants rescued off Libya. 

The decision sparked a diplomatic war of words between Italy and Malta before Spain offered to take in the stranded migrants. 

“The European Council summit being at the end of June is the last chance that prime ministers have to reform the Dublin system, to one that shares responsibility between member states. This is not a time for populism but for concrete action, human lives are again at stake and Prime Ministers must act," Dr Metsola said.

This is not a time for populism but for concrete action

She said there was agreement across political lines that the issue cannot be delayed any further. The Dublin Regulation determines which EU member state is responsible for examining an application for asylum seekers seeking international protection under the Geneva Convention.

"They must act, even if this is by a vote rather than by consensus. If countries are using their geographic location to exonerate themselves from responsibility then they should be held to account. We do not need unanimity on this point. We need action."

Dr Metsola said Europe has to eliminate the business model used by traffickers to exploit the voiceless and to rope in asylum experts in representation offices.

"Of course we cannot bury our heads in the sand on security. Fears do exist among our citizens and states must fulfil their obligations at the external borders if these fears are to be in any way allayed. And we have to return those who are not eligible for protection back - that is the only way our citizens will have any sort of confidence in our approach."