(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Leaders of the 28-member European Union began here Thursday afternoon an emergency summit to deal with the illegal immigration crisis after the recent drowning of 800 African immigrants off Libya.
"We are meeting in light of the dramatic situation in the Mediterranean," President of the European Council Donald Tusk who called the special meeting, told reporters on arrival.
"We need to track down the human smugglers, we have to break up their networks and to undermine their business model. I think the best way to protect migrants from drowning is by ensuring that they do not get on the boat in the first place," he said.
Tusk called for boosting EU border operations and for better cooperation with countries of origin and transit to limit illegal migration.
On her part, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said: "Human trafficking must be undercut, we must fight reasons for fleeing, but above all, we must save human lives. I hope for an action plan in the next days for further follow-up, there is much to do in this area." British Prime Minister David Cameron said "what we are dealing with here is a real tragedy in the Mediterranean and todayØ¢´s meeting has got to be about saving lives." "Saving lives means rescuing these poor people but it also means smashing the gangs and stabilizing the region. Britain, as ever, will help," he said adding that the UK will be offering today the Royal Navy flagship, the HMS Bulwark, but also with three helicopters and two other border patrol ships, all of which will be able to help with these operations.
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