The EU has set out a package of measures to try to ease the migrant boat crisis in the Mediterranean.
Its Triton patrolling service will be strengthened and a military mandate sought to destroy people-smugglers’ boats. An emergency summit of EU leaders will be held on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Italian police arrested two survivors from a sinking off Libya on suspicion of people trafficking.
A coast guard vessel carrying survivors arrived in Sicily late on Monday.
It is believed the two were the captain and a crew member from the boat that foundered on Sunday, Italian media reported.
The boat docked at Catania, bringing a group who had originally been taken to Malta after being rescued.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the 10-point package set out at talks in Luxembourg was a “strong reaction from the EU to the tragedies” and “shows a new sense of urgency and political will”.
“We are developing a truly European sense of solidarity in fighting human trafficking – finally so.”
The measures include an increase in the financial resources of Frontex, which runs the EU’s Mediterranean rescue service Triton, and an extension of Triton’s operational area.
The EU had been criticised over the scope of Triton, which replaced the larger Italian operation Mare Nostrum at the end of last year.
The “civilian and military” operation to destroy the people-smugglers’ boats would need a mandate signed off by the European Council. BBC
