VALLETTA - German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on the European Union to stay united and hailed the plan to stem illegal migration from Libya to Europe endorsed by the 28 EU leaders at their informal summit in the capital of Malta on Friday.
"The work on immigration is still ongoing," Merkel said.
"The EU is drawing lessons on migration from years 2015 and 2016. It is clear that people smuggling networks have to be tackled. You have to remember how many people perished in the Mediterranean Sea."
Over 181,000 migrants and refugees, most of whom use Libya as a springboard, arrived in EU nations in 2016 through the central Mediterranean route.
As the deadliest route for migrants last year, the central Mediterranean route claimed the lives of 4,576 people, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Referring to the EU-Turkey deal agreed in March last year, which sought a dramatic decline in the flaws of immigration along the Aegean route, Merkel said migrants to Europe cannot go through smugglers, but through agreements.
The best policy for immigrants would be to stay close to their countries, by creating "safe heavens" in areas near their country of origin, she insisted.
Merkel highlighted the gap between the European position and U.S. President Donald Trump's migration policies. Trump has faced criticism after issuing a ban on refugees and entry into the United States of citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations.   (Xinhua)