AFP
The Italian government will give Libya 12 boats to help them "fight human trafficking" and curb the flow of migrants into Europe, Rome announced late Monday.
The announcement comes as several EU nations are pressuring Libya to take charge of migrant rescues in the Mediterranean, with the bloc debating how to handle the influx of migrants to the continent.
The measure, adopted during a cabinet meeting, "aims to strengthen the operational capacity of the Libyan coastguard" to ensure the "proper management" of the migrant situation in the Mediterranean, a government statement said.
The measure "priorities the need to fight human trafficking, to protect human life at sea and to curb migratory pressure," the statement added.
The Italian government will also take responsibility for the maintenance of the 12 boats until the end of the year and offer training to the Libyan coastguard and naval authorities.
According to the Italian transport and infrastructure ministry, the total cost of this aid is around EUR2.5 million ($2.9 million).
"We are aware that this is not enough and that we must work to stabilize the situation, strengthen the rule of law and the protection of people's dignity in the territory of the emerging Libyan state," Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in the statement.
