The European Union's top migration official is urging member countries to provide funds and resources like a border guard system if they want the bloc to deal with migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

EU migration chief Dimitris Avramopoulos said Wednesday that "we need to pool more resources from member states. We need to greatly enhance our capacity."

Criticism of the EU border agency Frontex is mounting as migrants die or are rescued as they try to cross the Mediterranean from Libya in decrepit boats.

But Avramopoulos sayts that "Frontex is not a European border guard system. If we want one, we would have to create one."

Almost 170,000 people were rescued in the Mediterranean last year, but hundreds died and hundreds more are missing.