EU leaders vow ships, aid for migrant action

Nations pledge to lay out plans to let militaries fight traffickers

BRUSSELS — European Union leaders on Thursday committed extra ships, planes and helicopters to save lives in the Mediterranean at an emergency summit convened after hundreds of migrants drowned in the space of a few days, and agreed to lay the groundwork for military action against traffickers.

Germany and France pledged two ships each, while Britain committed three to move into the Mediterranean, and other member states also lined up more vessels and helicopters that could be used to rescue migrants, officials said.

The member states also agreed to triple funding to 9 million euros ($9.7 million) a month for the EU’s border operation that patrols the Mediterranean.

“Leaders have already pledged significantly greater support, including many more vessels, aircraft and experts” than had been anticipated before the summit, EU President Donald Tusk said.

They also assigned EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to line up the diplomatic options that would allow EU militaries to strike against the boats used by traffickers. Tusk said every possible action needed to be in line with international law and human rights. Officials said the lack of a strong Libyan government would likely make U.N. backing necessary.

French President Francois Hollande announced that the EU would hold a summit in Malta with African countries by this summer to see how the continents can better deal with the crisis that has only shown signs of increasing over the past years.

For several years, EU leaders have done little more than deplore the rising death toll and mark tragedies with moments of silence and wreaths instead of fundamental action. When Libya disintegrated politically after the overthrow of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi and unrest spread in neighboring countries, Europe failed to take forceful action.

Desperate migrants threw their lot in with cynical smugglers who often took their last money for a place on a doomed ship across the Mediterranean. Ending that is Europe’s main challenge.

“First and foremost, we have to save lives and take the right measures to do so,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would contribute the navy’s flagship, HMS Bulwark, along with three helicopters and two border patrol ships to the EU effort.

The task ahead is huge, with more than 10,000 migrants plucked from seas between Italy and Libya just over the last week, fleeing poverty and conflict.

“Right now it’s a question of fixing yesterday’s errors,” French President Francois Hollande said.