European Union leaders are poised to take a big step in closing off the illegal migration route from Libya across the central Mediterranean, EU council president Donald Tusk says.

Key points: EU to tackle people smuggling rings and deadly routes across the Mediterranean

EU to tackle people smuggling rings and deadly routes across the Mediterranean The Europeans want to involve the Libyan government

The Europeans want to involve the Libyan government Fears warmer weather will encourage more people to make the dangerous crossing

Mr Tusk said the EU summit on Friday would pave the way for humanitarian action to save lives of poor people with no chance to stay on in Europe.

It comes as US President Donald Trump's restrictions on refugees and immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries attract global condemnation.

Mr Tusk wants tougher action from the 28 EU leaders to break the smuggling rings and their deadly sea routes because "this is the only way to stop people dying in the desert and at sea and this is also the only way to gain control over migration in Europe".

It would include more cooperation with the internationally recognised but largely ineffective Libyan Government and more help to get the coastguard ready to better contain the smugglers.

"This goal is within our reach," he said on the eve of the summit.

The challenge for the EU is to contain the flow of migrants through largely lawless Libya from desperately poor Sahel nations and beyond.

The influx of migrants from war-torn Syria through Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean has turned from a flood into a trickle after the EU made a deal with Turkey on immigration.

With warmer weather coming, fears are that weekly migrant drownings in the Mediterranean will increase.

Last year, 5,083 people died in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

Most migrants coming through Libya and into Italy are seeking work and have little chance of being granted asylum.

The EU is now working with Libyan authorities to make sure the migrants do not board rickety sloops and head into the unforgiving waters, and will require that the bloc step up its aid to Libya's government.

Beyond Libya, EU investment to counter people from leaving Africa would have to be extended over a big swathe of nations from Ethiopia to Nigeria, making for a very costly arrangement.

AP