700 feared dead and only 28 survivors as fishing boat packed with migrants trying to reach Europe

[JustAnotherGen]

53. Renzi calling for summit

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/19/italian-prime-minister-matteo-renzi-emergency-summit-700-drown-mediterranean

The sudden surge in deaths has increased pressure on European powers to come up with a proper joined-up strategy to deal with the burgeoning crisis. Last autumn, Mare Nostrum, an Italian search-and-rescue mission that rescued more than 100,000 people at sea in 12 months was discontinued amid a row over funding and Italian exasperation that it was shouldering the burden of responsibility alone.

It was replaced with a slimmer EU force with a weaker mandate, amid suspicions that some European leaders did not want to fund an operation that might encourage greater numbers of unwanted migrants to risk the deadly crossing. Migrant smugglers have told the Guardian that the presence or absence of rescue forces in the Mediterranean makes no difference to people so desperate to flee that they would rather chance their luck on the ocean than return home.

Italy was effective - if the EU could pitch in some money (Italy's neck is under the boot of the EU's austerity) - they could help these people.