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Antonio Tajani was speaking ahead of a two-day EU summit with immigration, security and the economy expected to dominate the agenda. Speaking outside the summit, Mr Tajani said: “We need a solution on immigration. For the European Parliament it is a priority. We are working on reform and we will vote before the end of the summer. “For us it is important to work a lot in Africa, we need a solution for Africa, because without a solution in Africa we will have more migrants, millions and millions of migrants coming from this region. We need investment on this.”

We need a solution on immigration. For the European Parliament it is a priority European Parliament President Antonio Tajani

His comments come as Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to brief her EU counterparts on the UK's commitment to a new £75 million plan designed to stem the flow of illegal migrants from Africa to Europe. The three-year programme will offer humanitarian support, including food and water, to migrants on the perilous transit routes from the Horn of Africa and western Africa through countries including Niger, Egypt and Libya. And migrants who find themselves stranded and destitute along the routes will be offered assistance to return home.

AFP/ EU Antonio Tajani said immigration is a priority for the European Parliament

AFP GETTY Antonio Tajani said: “We need a solution on immigration."

While any assisted returns will be voluntary, it is thought that many individuals could take advantage of the scheme as a way of escaping the gruelling conditions of the transit routes, which expose them to the risk of death, violence, forced labour and exploitation at the hands of people-traffickers before they even reach Mediterranean Sea ports. A record 4,576 people are thought to have died or been recorded missing while attempting the risky central Mediterranean Sea crossing during 2016. Some 181,000 people arrived in Italy via this route last year, with a greater number expected in 2017.

LIGHTROCKET Some 181,000 people arrived in Italy via the Mediterranean route last year

SKY NEWS Theresa May will brief the EU on UK's commitment to a new £75 million plan to help

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said: "The UK has been at the forefront of responding to the migration crisis and our work to date has helped reduce total migrant numbers to Europe since 2015. "But worryingly, more and more people are now using the incredibly dangerous central Mediterranean route. "This new UK support will provide desperately needed aid and protection to tens of thousands of the world's most vulnerable.

596 migrants rescued in the Med Sat, June 10, 2017 Mayhem broke out in the Mediterranean on Friday as more than 900 migrants set off from Libya to reach Europe in just 24 hours. Play slideshow EXPRESS 1 of 21 Nearly 1,000 migrants leave Libya bound for Europe in just 24 hours