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Migrant crisis: EU summit seeks action-plan with Libya Migrant crisis: EU summit seeks action plan with Libya
(about 3 hours later)
European Union leaders are to meet in Malta to discuss how to stem the influx of migrants from North Africa and the Middle East. European Union leaders are meeting in Malta to discuss how to stem the influx of migrants from North Africa.
The summit comes after Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni said he had reached a deal with Libya on how to stop migrants from setting sail for Europe. Boosting the Libyan coastguard and tackling people smugglers are the main proposals.
He pledged more funds and training to Libya to tackle people smugglers. Hundreds of thousands of migrants try to reach Europe each year. Many of them drown while crossing the Mediterranean.
Hundreds of thousands of migrants each year try to reach Europe. Many of them drown while crossing the Mediterranean.
On Thursday, Italy's coastguard said more than 1,750 migrants had been rescued in the Mediterranean within 24 hours.On Thursday, Italy's coastguard said more than 1,750 migrants had been rescued in the Mediterranean within 24 hours.
Since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has lacked any effective central government and security has been in the hands of various local factions. People smugglers have found it easy to operate in the country. Why are the migrants coming?
"If we want to give real strength and legs to managing migration flows, then there needs to be an economic commitment by the whole of the EU," said Mr Gentiloni. Most of those arriving in Libya come from a range of African countries, some fleeing persecution, many seeking a better life.
The leaders of 28 EU member states will discuss the migrant crisis in Malta's capital Valletta later on Friday. Migrants have fled Nigeria, for example, because of the instability in the north caused by the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram. In Eritrea, many flee to escape military service which can last for decades and was compared in a UN report to slavery.
The new plan is to deal with the issue at source by co-operating with the Libyan coastguard to shut down people smuggling routes, the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Malta reports. More than 180,000 migrants arrived in Italy last year, and more than 4,500 drowned trying to get there.
Mediterranean states - where the migrants land - want other EU members to take some of the new arrivals but have met with considerable reluctance, our correspondent says. No relief in migrant crisis for Italy
Ahead of the gathering, EU Council President Donald Tusk said that breaking smuggling rings and stopping perilous sea journeys "is the only way to stop people dying in the desert and at sea, and this is also the only way to gain control over migration in Europe". Libyan gateway
"This goal is within our reach," he added. Since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has lacked any effective central government and security has been in the hands of various local factions.
The EU already has a military presence in international waters off Libya to target people smugglers. A UN-brokered government, headed by PM Fayez al-Seraj, has only limited control over the country and people smugglers have found it easy to operate.
Meanwhile, Mr Gentiloni said that at Thursday's talks with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj in Rome the deal was agreed to tackle people smugglers in the North African country. Libya, thanks to its proximity to Europe and instability, has become a centre for people trafficking from Africa.
Mr Gentiloni said the agreement was "just a piece" of a broader plan that would be discussed in Valletta. Migrants who arrive from Libya tell of violence and trauma.
However, experts warn reliable partners in Libya are hard to find and that shutting existing routes might simply lead to the opening of new ones, our correspondent says. What is the EU proposing?
An EU-Turkey deal to tackle the migrant crisis came into effect last March. Most migrants were making their way into northern Europe from Syria via the Balkans, until an EU-Turkey deal to tackle the crisis came into effect last March.
In Valletta, the EU leaders will also discuss the UK's future after Brexit and Europe's relations with new US President Donald Trump. This saw a significant reduction in the number of migrants using that route.
But the instability in Libya rules out a similar deal for migrants from Africa.
"There will be no bazooka," an EU official told Reuters.
However, the EU is proposing bolstering the Libyan coastguard with training and equipment to help it prevent migrants crossing the Mediterranean on rickety boats.
It also wants tougher action against the smuggling gangs, the humanitarian repatriation of migrants who have had asylum requests refused, and improved conditions for migrants.
The European Commission is proposing an extra €200m ($215m, £171m) in 2017 to help reduce the flow.
The EU already has a military presence in international waters off Libya to target people smugglers, and the idea is to increase support for this.
But experts warn that reliable partners in Libya are hard to find and that shutting existing routes might simply lead to the opening of new ones.
Italy, which now bears the brunt of the influx wants the whole EU to share the burden.
"If we want to give real strength and legs to managing migration flows, then there needs to be an economic commitment by the whole of the EU," said Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni said after meeting Mr al-Seraj in Rome on Thursday.
The two signed a memorandum of understanding on increasing co-operation in prevent people trafficking.
EU Council President Donald Tusk, speaking before the meeting in Malta, said that breaking smuggling rings and stopping perilous sea journeys "is the only way to stop people dying in the desert and at sea, and this is also the only way to gain control over migration in Europe".
A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.