(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The European Commission Sunday said "it is deeply chagrined by the tragic developments in the Mediterranean today, but also over the past days and weeks" after reports that nearly 700 migrants were reported drowned off the Libyan coast when their boat capsized.
The European Commission in a statement said it is currently consulting with EU Member States, European agencies and international organisations in order to prepare a new European Migration Strategy, which will be adopted by mid-May.
"The only way to truly change the reality is to address the situation at its roots. For as long as there is war and hardship in our neighbourhood near and far, people will continue to seek a safe haven on European shores. And as long as countries of origin and transit do not take action to prevent these desperate trips, people will continue to put their lives at risk," said the EU's executive body.
The Commission said its approach is to work with third countries. A joint meeting of the EU foreign and interior ministers will be organised to this end.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has charged First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, High Representative Federica Mogherini and Dimitris Avramopoulos, his Migration Commissioner, to work very closely together on all these aspects in preparation of the new European Migration Agenda.
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