Germany has called for a “coalition of the willing” to take in migrants rescued while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.

Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, called for a core group of European Union countries to agree a scheme without waiting for approval from the rest of the bloc.

“We need a coalition of the willing for a binding quota system,” he said in an interview with a German regional newspaper group at the weekend.

"We must now go ahead with the member states that are ready to accept refugees. The others remain invited to participate.”

Germany was “always prepared to take its share of the migrants”, he added.

Mr Maas’ comments comes amid growing concern over the issue. At least 682 migrants have drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean so far this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and at least 53 were killed in an air strike on a detention camp in Libya earlier this month.

EU justice and interior ministers are due to hold talks on the issue this week, but they will meet against the backdrop of a diplomatic stand-off over Italy’s refusal to allow migrant rescue ships to enter its harbours.