Brussels - The European Union on Sunday called an emergency meeting of ministers to discuss what the top EU diplomat said was the "unacceptable" tragedy of up to 700 people feared drowned in the latest Mediterranean migrant shipwreck.
The European Commission said the meeting would involve foreign and interior ministers from the 28-member bloc, but gave no date.
"The reality is stark and our actions must therefore be bold. These are human lives at stake, and the European Union as a whole has a moral and humanitarian obligation to act," it said in a statement.
The Commission said it is consulting with member states, European agencies and international organisations to prepare a new European migration strategy, which it would adopt in mid-May.
"What we need is immediate actions to prevent further loss of life as well as a comprehensive approach to managing migration better in all its aspects."
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini described the wave of migrant boat sinkings in the Mediterranean as "unacceptable".
"We have said too many times 'never again'. Now is time for the European Union as such to tackle these tragedies without delay," she said in a statement.
Mogherini said the crisis would be discussed Monday at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, where she would present a set of proposals to Libya, one of the main trafficking routes.
"We need to save human lives all together, as all together we need to protect our borders and to fight the trafficking of human beings," she said, urging that the task be shared and not "left only to the southern countries".
Illegal immigration, mostly from Africa, has rapidly expanded with ruthless people smugglers based in chaotic Libya taking overcrowded, unseaworthy boats north, mostly to Italy and Greece.
Southern EU countries have complained that they are bearing too much of the brunt of the rescue work and processing of migrants.
AFP
