European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday praised Italy for its role in cutting the number of migrant boats crossing the Mediterranean from Libya.
"Thanks to Italy, the number of illegal migrants and deaths at sea are finally falling," Tusk told reporters in Brussels ahead of an EU leaders summit on Thursday and Friday.
"As you know, the Italian government under the leadership of premier Paolo Gentiloni has began to reduce the influx of migrants in the central Mediterranean effectively."
Tusk also called for more help to Italy.
"We cannot just thank Italy, the EU most now increase its efforts to help it," he said.
EU member states should be willing to earmark more funds for the Trust Fund for Africa, Tusk went on.
"The European Commission, which manages this fund, must ensure the money is channelled to the fight against illegal immigration," he said.
Italy has been training to Libyan coastguard and the Italian parliament on 2 August approved a naval mission aimed at aiding Libya's coastguard fight the gangs trafficking migrants across the Mediterranean.
The Italian naval mission is now conducting security operations in some 160,000 square kilometres including Libya's coastal waters.
Alleged deals between trafficking gangs and the UN-recognised government in Tripoli have drastically reduced the number of migrant boats setting sail from Libya.
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