The death of at least 800 migrants in a single shipwreck over the weekend jolted the European Union onto emergency footing to combat the crisis.

Both Malta and Italy are among the top destinations for migrants fleeing war, repression and poverty in the Middle East and Africa to reach Europe.

Italy has arrested more than 1,000 smugglers - most of them boat navigators, not the masterminds of the smuggling operations - and says it needs help.