The new migration and asylum pact continues to raise debate in European capitals, which have been involved in two rounds of talks in recent days in an attempt to conclude an initial agreement for the pillars of migrant redistribution and asylum procedure management.

Sweden, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, has said it believes that an agreement will be achieved on Thursday (June 8), when interior ministers of the bloc meet in Luxembourg.

First, however, it will be necessary to resolve "some issues that are still suspended" and crucial to ensure that best possible balance between "responsibility and solidarity."

According to press briefings, there appears to be greater willingness to compromise on the part of some states compared with the past, but differences remain within the EU regarding stances on migration; especially between the countries bordering the Mediterranean, which take in the majority of those arriving in Europe and the so-called Visegrad countries, former eastern European states who have long refused to take in additional cohorts of migrants (and often have comparitively weaker economies and lesser social care than richer Western European and Scandinavian states).

Fines for countries refusing to take in transfer migrants?

The talks -- which center on quotas of migrants to be transferred from countries of first arrival, reception capacity, and sanctions for those who continue to refuse -- have been underway for days with continual exchanges of views.

There is only one certainty, Sweden has declared that although the relocation mechanism will not be mandatory, the solidarity principle will be. To encourage this, the proposal that has emerged in recent days is of a fine of €22,000 per migrant for countries that refuse to take in migrants.

Alongside this, there will be a structure of quotas, financial and/or logistical support available for those in the front line like Italy, and an annual ceiling on reception capacity -- to be determined in line with set criteria -- beyond which relocations or other measures will be set in motion.

Given the various elements on the table, several EU sources have said that before Thursday there will again be discussion on the differences in positions between the eastern bloc -- led by Poland and the Czech Republic -- and the rest of the EU.

Italy, Greece, Spain, Malta and Cyprus want EU policy change

The Med5 -- the group of countries of initial arrival for most migrants comprising Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus -- are demanding "effective and sustainable" solutions.

Thus far, Poland has staunchly rejected pecuniary sanctions for those not taking part in the relocation mechanism. This, it claims, would be simply "forced transfer" under a different name and "disproportionate" at the economic level.

Sweden's declared aim is to bring the positions as close as possible -- including introducing possible thresholds for fines in order to get agreement at the internal affairs council in Luxembourg.

Sweden is keen to end its six-month presidency with a success story, before Spain and its new government take up the reins in July.