On the other hand, the more welcoming Europe is, the greater the incentive to attempt the crossing. Instead of focusing so much on how to accommodate new arrivals, Europe would do better to address the root causes of migration – poverty and strife – and attack the heartless gangs who traffic the desperate across the Med. Perhaps the time has come to consider establishing processing centres on African soil, where applications for asylum could be lodged, thus removing the need for a crossing. But there would still be a risk that those rejected would then attempt the passage illegally nonetheless.