VALLETTA, Malta -- European Union leaders at a summit Friday devised a plan involving Libya to try to shut down the smuggling of hundreds of thousands of migrants from North Africa across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
The vast human tide has helped boost anti-Europe populist parties across the continent that have used the immigration crisis to gain voters.
But even as EU officials meeting in the Mediterranean island nation of Malta were voicing hopes that the strategy would help stop the loss of thousands of lives yearly when flimsy trafficking boats from Libya flounder or sink, concerns arose that the plan risks seeing thousands of people marooned in inhumane conditions in Libya.
Much of the plan's success will depend on whether Libya can be helped by Europe to deter smugglers from operating along its poorly patrolled coastline. That's a big unknown given that the internationallybacked Tripoli-based government only controls part of the sprawling country. Libya is beset by rival governments, militias and tribal factions that were unleashed in 2011 after the ouster and slaying of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi.
"Naturally, we're hoping for results," Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni told reporters Friday. "There won't be any miracles, but better management and reduction of illegal migrants are what we're working toward."
He said that if the plan can cut down on the hundreds of thousands setting off from Libya, it will also reduce the tragedies in which thousands of migrants die every year in the Mediterranean -- including at least 5,083 last year.
In the past few years, Italy's coast guard has coordinated the rescues of hundreds of thousands of asylum-seekers and other migrants who were then taken to safety on Italy's shores. Most don't want to stay in Italy but hope to reach families or find potential jobs in Germany or other wealthy northern European countries.
In March, the EU struck a deal with Turkey to stop a wave of Syrians, Iraqis, Afghanis and others heading from Turkish shores toward Greece and then overland toward northern Europe. That arrangement involved EU funds of some $3.2 billion for Turkey, in exchange for that country keeping the migrants within its borders and caring for them.
"The Libyan government doesn't have the same control as [Turkish President Recep] Erdogan of his territory. We can't expect the situation will change suddenly" in Libya, Gentiloni cautioned.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel conceded that Libya doesn't have the needed stability to control all of its territory.
But citing an aid and cooperation deal that Italy signed Thursday with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj, Merkel said Europe would help by continuing to train the Libyan coast guard and would help Libya protect its southern border.
Migrant trafficking routes in North Africa pass through Niger then cross into Libya across the Sahara Desert.
The EU will also work to make sure there are better reception conditions for migrants. Voluntary returns will be stepped up, and the EU will get more involved with neighboring North African nations including Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt to contain the inflows of migrants. Brussels will provide an additional $215 million for the plan.
But there are concerns that migrants could become trapped in horrific conditions in Libya if the trafficking route is cut off.
"The EU is yet again outsourcing its responsibility to protect the rights of migrants and refugees with no guarantees about what will happen" to them if they are stuck in Libya, said Ester Asin of the Save the Children charity.
A Section on 02/04/2017