The European Union's commissioner for migration says member states must take up their responsibilities to help deal with the thousands of migrants pouring across the Mediterranean.

Dmitris Avramopoulos said during a meeting in Morocco that while the EU is developing the policies, the member states and their resources must implement them.

His comments come as some 11,000 migrants have been rescued making the perilous crossing to Europe in the past week, while hundreds of others are feared drowned.

"Europe is accomplishing its duty, it's up to the member states to implement it," he said, referring to a new EU policy to be presented in May.

He urged member states to show solidarity with those bearing the brunt of the arrivals.

In February, the Islamic State had warned Italy that if they are attacked they will send over 500,000 migrants,

The information was confirmed by Italian authorities, and was obtained via the interception of telephone calls between jihadists, TGcom reports. The idea was to destabilise the country.