EU leaders agree stronger support for Italy over Libya migration

BRUSSELS - 19 October 2017: European Union leaders agreed to provide "stronger support" to Italy for its work in Libya aimed at curbing immigration to Europe, their summit chairman Donald Tusk said after talks in Brussels on Thursday.

"Leaders agreed to offer Prime Minister (Paolo) Gentiloni stronger support for Italy's work with the Libyan authorities. We have a real chance of closing the Central Mediterranean route," Tusk said after all 28 EU leaders discussed migration.

Tusk also said that EU leaders would return in December to continue talks about reforming the bloc's asylum rules, which collapsed under the massive influx of refugees and migrants in 2015.

Despite differences, he said they would aim to arrive at an agreement acceptable to all members by mid-2018.