Italian Deputy Prime Minister/ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, has stressed the need for a stronger hand from the EU to eliminate immigration flows, especially those departing from Libya and Tunisia.

Speaking to a local TV channel on Thursday, Italy's top diplomat disclosed that his government intends to step up its support for Libya's Coast Guard to help them combat irregular migration.

"After delivering a patrol boat, we will hand them (Libya's Coast Guard) two more boats in the next few days in Messina, Sicily, to help them halt the departure of migrant boats from the Libyan coast," Tajani was quoted by the Italian press as saying.

Referring to the presence of the European Agency for Border and Coast Guard (Frontex) in the Mediterranean waters, he called for a stronger European presence to address the migration issue.

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