Last month, the European Commission called on EU member states to take in parts of the 40,000-refugee total from Africa and the Middle East who had landed in Italy and Greece. The EU body laid out a quota plan for refuge adoption that took into account social and economic indicators in the EU member states. Germany, France and Spain would have received the most migrants under the plan.
The quotas caused controversy within the bloc, and at least 12 countries were dissatisfied with the refugee distribution plan, although expressed their readiness to cooperate if it was mandatory, the EU official said on condition of anonymity.
This controversy could be partially resolved during the upcoming EU June 25-26 summit via a voluntary scheme and principles of political will, he added.
According to the official, the ultimate solution could not be expected that soon, as European Council President Donald Tusk offered to make a decision in late July.
In recent months, Southern Europe's Mediterranean Sea coastlines have seen a major migrant crisis as thousands of people continue to flee conflict-torn countries in North Africa and the Middle East, making the sea journey to Europe.
According to UN estimates, some 60,000 people have already tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, with more than 1,800 dying in an attempt.
