European Union leaders are meeting in Malta to discuss ways to stem the flow of migrants from North Africa. Libya is often used as a "jumping off" point for migrants from many African nations, and among the main proposals EU leaders are discussing are strengthening Libya's coastguard and taking more action to tackle people smuggling. Hundreds of thousands of migrants try to reach Europe each year, but many of them drown while crossing the Mediterranean. Italy's coastguard said on Thursday that more than 1,750 migrants had been rescued in the Mediterranean within the previous 24 hours.