EU considers joint force for the Mediterranean
EU authorities are planning to have a multi-national force in place by the start of November to support the overstretched Italian Navy and Coastguard as they bid to deal with the massive numbers of migrants crossing the Mediterranean to seek asylum in Europe.
Italy has already received 115,000 migrants this year, many of whom were forced to make irregular and hazardous Mediterranean crossings. Experts estimate the total will likely increase to around 150,000-160,000 by the end of 2014.
Many of the refugees are from Syria, Eritrea and Somalia and it is believed that more than 2,000 have died this year
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