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4/23/15

EU considers military action against migrant smugglers

EU leaders gathering in Brussels Thursday for an emergency summit on Mediterranean migration will consider launching a military operation against human traffickers, according to EU officials.

Days after a shipwreck killed more than 800 people in the “worst-ever” migrant boat disaster in the Mediterranean, EU officials are under pressure to formulate a robust response to the increasingly alarming problem on the continent’s southern border.

A draft statement for Thursday’s summit seen by the AFP called EU officials to "undertake systematic efforts to identify, capture and destroy vessels before they are used by traffickers."

The EU's top diplomat Federica Mogherini "is invited to immediately begin preparations for a possible security and defence policy operation to this effect, in accordance with international law," the draft added.

Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti also said human traffickers must be targeted with military intervention.

Note EU-Digest: it is also being recommended that European fighter jets also take out mercenary smugglers and ISIS strongholds in Libya

Read more: Europe - EU considers military action against migrant smugglers - France 24

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