GETTY The EU is will send £170million to Africa in 2017 as they reveal record migrant numbers

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And they have confirmed that they are trying to raise an astonishing £75billion to send to African nations ahead of a crunch meeting which will look at record migration numbers next month. The EU today announced their "External Investment Plan for Africa and the Neighbourhood" to "raise €44billion in investments - and up to €88 billion if Member States contribute".

And commission president Jean Claude Juncker says that £2.8m will be sent immediately to Libya as they unveiled record numbers of migrants are using the route to get to Europe. According to an announcement the commission has confirmed more than 181,000 migrants used the Central Mediterranean route to get to Europe last year. In 2015 total number of migrants was 154,000 - about a tenth lower than the record set in 2014, according to Frontex, the EU's border agency.

GETTY The money will be sent to Africa in a bid to stop the flow of migrants flying into Europe

Now ahead of the meeting of Heads of State and Government in Malta on February 3 2017, the Commission and the High Representative have today set out their contribution to "the discussion on how to better manage migration and save lives along the Central Mediterranean route".

Too many people are still dying in the Mediterranean European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker

The EU has said it will give £170m to African nations to fight human smuggling and trafficking networks, helping to manage migratory flows more effectively in 2017. They also say it will help to save lives at sea and improving the living conditions of migrants and refugees in Libya and neighbouring countries. European Commission President Mr Juncker said: "Too many people are still dying in the Mediterranean.

Heartbreaking images depict refugee children Fri, February 24, 2017 Photo report on the growing refugee crisis in Europe of children, some of who are orphans struggling to survive Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 23 A young boy cries at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni

GETTY Jean Claude Juncker says that £2.8m will be sent immediately to Libya

"We have implemented actions to address the situation but we need to do more. "Today we are presenting possible short and medium term actions to address the flows to and from North Africa. "First and foremost, stability in Libya and the region as a whole is required.

GETTY More than 181,000 migrants used the Central Mediterranean route to get to Europe last year