Libya and European union agree to intensify efforts to combat illegal immigration

Libya and the European Union have agreed to intensify their efforts to combat illegal immigration in the Mediterranean. Libyan News Agency (LNA) said the agreement provides for the establishment of the Mediterranean Network (Seahorse Mediterraneo project), training of coast guards, control over land border of Libya and North African countries, one of the sources of immigration towards Europe. LNA said the agreement also provides for the continuation of the implementation of the Seahorse Atlantico programme which succeeded in reducing the migration pressures across the sea from Africa to Europe. According to the agency, the implementation of the joint programme has succeeded in reducing the number of immigrants from the south to the north from 31 thousand in 2006 to about 300 immigrants in 2012.