As the European Union’s leaders converge today in Brussels, presumably under shock from last Sunday’s Mediterranean migrant tragedy that has claimed the lives of as many as 900 migrants, they face something of a double-edged sword: they have a choice between either creating a stronger Fortress Europe or ensuring that refugees are safely allowed to exercise their international legal right to apply for asylum in a safe country and without having to risk their lives in the process.

The humanitarian solution requires a two-pronged approach: the EU must, first and foremost, dramatically increase its search and rescue assets and operations in the Mediterranean, while at the same time provide legal means for asylum seekers to seek humanitarian protection status in the EU.

The stark reality of the situation is that, as matters currently stand, the only way for Africa’s refugees to reach Europe is with the ‘help’ of smugglers.

Europe must come up with a set of legal alternatives to irregular migration provide by smugglers.  Such legal avenues could include better family reunification policies, private sponsorship schemes and work and study visas.  While welcome, such measures are clearly not enough to stem the great migrant tide - even with such solutions in place thousands of refugees will still resort of people smugglers.

Last Sunday’s tragedy and the deaths of up to 900 people, it saddens us to note, is a mere drop in the ocean.  Thousands upon thousands of people have been losing their lives to the Mediterranean’s waters year after year. 

It is only now in the face of political and popular pressure brought about by this latest shocking incident that the EU appears to have been spurred into action.

Many European politicians, including former Maltese Prime Minister Alfred Sant, are calling for a blockade of the Libyan coast, which will have the effect of simply further fortifying Fortress Europe and in the process deny refugees their international legal right to seek asylum in safe countries.

On the other hand, Europe cannot go on merely plucking people out of the sea as migrants’ rickety boats capsize, deal with the problem in its stride and hope that it will eventually go away.

Long term solutions for the countries of origin, such as Syria and Eritrea, are the ultimate end-game, but such solutions are years, if not decades in the making.  In the meantime, the huddled and persecuted masses will continue to seek better lives for themselves and their families. 

The EU certainly must crack down on human traffickers and their unscrupulous methods, but it cannot leave a vacuum in such action’s wake. It must create viable, real means of seeking asylum in the EU and further afield.

This is a global crisis for which the EU alone is not responsible but the EU, being the target destination of the rickety boats carrying irregular migrants, has a huge role to play. 

The Italian Prime Minister has suggested including establishing refugee camps transit countries such as in Niger, Sudan and elsewhere in Africa with United Nations assistance.  That is all well and good, but it is also a dead end for would-be asylum seekers.

The EU also needs to coordinate the establishment of front line offices in the main transit countries, preferably run by the UNHCR, which would vet asylum applications for refugees, and distribute those found deserving humanitarian protection across the EU or even perhaps across the world.

In the meantime, the 10-point plan published by the European Commission on Monday is little more than a repeat of the same old song and dance, the same lacklustre proposals we have heard time and time again that leave much to be desired.

We expect that the EU’s extraordinary summit being held today and tomorrow will present real, concrete and actionable solutions to this long-festering problem, as opposed to the mere lip service that we have been hearing. 

It is hoped that this latest Meditteranean tragedy will be a catalyst for real change in the EU’s approach to irregular migration so that the hundreds of lives lost over this last week will have at least served some purpose, by having spurred new and innovative policies that will benefit those who are bound to follow in their footsteps.

We expect that EU leaders will act in favour of the sanctity of human life, in favour of humanitarianism and in favour of upholding the values that Europe as a collective bloc represents.