The European Commission will be proposing a temporary distribution mechanism for persons in clear need of international protection within the EU by the end of May.

A proposal for a permanent EU system for relocation in emergency situations of mass influxes will follow by the end of 2015, according to a European Agenda on Migration presented by the European Commission today.

It proposes taking in 20,000 refugees over two years and distributing them across Europe but giving Britain, Ireland and Denmark the option not to accept any.

The United Kingdom and Ireland have an 'opt-in' right under the Treaties, whereby they may choose, within three months of a proposal being presented to the Council, whether they wish to participate in the measure.

Denmark, on the other hand, has an 'opt-out' right whereby they do not participate in certain treaty measures.

Malta will be allocated 138 refugees. Germany will take the most at 3,648.

The agenda outlines the immediate measures that will be taken to respond to the crisis situation in the Mediterranean as well as the steps to be taken in the coming years to better manage migration in all its aspects.

The agenda sets out a European response, combining internal and external policies, making use of EU agencies and tools, and involving all actors - member states, EU institutions, international organisations, civil society, local authorities and third countries.

Mr Timmermans said:

"The tragic loss of life in the Mediterranean has shocked all Europeans. Our citizens expect member states and European institutions to act to prevent this tragedy from continuing unabated.

"The European Council clearly stated that we need to find European solutions, based on internal solidarity and the realisation that we have a common responsibility to create an effective migration policy.

"That is why the Commission today proposes an agenda which reflects our common values and provides an answer to our citizens' worries about unacceptable human suffering on the one hand and inadequate application of our agreed common asylum rules on the other hand.

"The measures we propose will help manage migration better and thus respond to the justified expectations of citizens."

Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "With this bold agenda, the European Union has proven itself ready to address the plight of those escaping from wars, persecution and poverty.

"Migration is a shared responsibility of all member states and all member states are called now to contribute to tackling this historical challenge. And this is not only a European but a global challenge: with this agenda we confirm and broaden our cooperation with the countries of origin and transit in order to save lives, clamp down on smuggling networks and protect those in need.

"But we all know that a real, long term response will come only from fixing the root causes; from poverty to instability caused by wars, to the crises in Libya and Syria. As the European Union, we are engaged and determined to cooperate with the international community on this."

Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said:

"Europe cannot stand by whilst lives are being lost.

The European Agenda on Migration concretely responds to the immediate need to save lives and assist frontline countries with bold actions, including strengthened presence at sea of Frontex-coordinated vessels, €60 million in emergency assistance and an action plan to crack down on smugglers who take advantage and abuse vulnerable migrants.

"In a spirit of greater solidarity, we are determined to implement a comprehensive approach that will improve significantly the management of migration in Europe."

The agenda's proposed mmediate action includes:

* Tripling the capacities and assets for the Frontex joint operations Triton and Poseidon in 2015 and 2016;

* An amending budget for 2015 to secure the necessary funds – a total of €89 million, including €57 million in AMIF and €5 million in ISF emergency funding for frontline member states;

* the new Triton Operational Plan will be presented by the end of May;

The policy proposes the first ever activation of the emergency mechanism to help member states confronted with a sudden influx of migrants.

The Commission would propose a temporary distribution mechanism for persons in clear need of international protection within the EU by the end of May.

A proposal for a permanent EU system for relocation in emergency situations of mass influxes will follow by the end of 2015;

The agenda also proposes an EU-wide resettlement scheme to offer 20,000 places distributed in all member states to displaced persons in clear need of international protection in Europe with a dedicated extra funding of €50 million for 2015 and 2016;

It proposes the launching of a Common Security and Defence Policy operation in the Mediterranean to dismantle traffickers' networks and fight smuggling of people, in accordance with international law.

The four pillars of the new agenda on migration are:

Reducing the incentives for irregular migration, notably by seconding European migration liaison officers to EU Delegations in key third countries; amending the Frontex legal basis to strengthen its role on return; a new action plan with measures that aim to transform people smuggling into high risk, low return criminal activity and addressing the root causes through development cooperation and humanitarian assistance;

Border management – saving lives and securing external borders, notably by strengthening the role and capacity of Frontex; helping strengthen the capacity of third countries to manage their borders; pooling further, where necessary, certain coast guard functions at EU level;

Europe's duty to protect: a strong common asylum policy: The priority is to ensure a full and coherent implementation of the Common European Asylum System, notably by promoting systematic identification and fingerprinting and with efforts to reduce its abuses by strengthening the Safe Country of Origin provisions of the Asylum Procedure Directive; evaluating and possibly revising the Dublin Regulation in 2016;

A new policy on legal migration: The focus is on maintaining a Europe in demographic decline as an attractive destination for migrants, notably by modernising and overhauling the Blue Card scheme, by reprioritising our integration policies, and by maximising the benefits of migration policy to individuals and countries of origin, including by facilitating cheaper, faster and safer remittance transfers.

Questions and answers on the European Agenda on Migration