Migrant crisis: EU ministers to discuss U-turn on search-and-rescue operations in Mediterranean

That mistake, in the view of governments, aid groups and experts, was to scrap the EU’s migrant rescue mission for a cut-price alternative. In the face of an unprecedented swell of public opinion, the heads of EU members states may decide to reinstate patrols in the Mediterranean to prevent a repeat of the tragedy in which more than 800 migrants drowned at the weekend.

EU leaders will also discuss ideas including trying to capture or destroy people-smuggling boats. New data from the Italian Directorate of Immigration shows that Italian authorities have managed to destroy or seize boats in just one in four encounters with traffickers, while in most cases the smugglers escape with their vessel and reuse it.