Italy is to receive additional help from the EU to deal with a record number of illegal migrants.
Italy, along with Greece and Malta, are the key targets for desperate migrants hoping to get away from turmoil and war in the Middle East and Africa.
The EU agency Frontex is stepping up its assistance by providing six vessels and three aircraft which will begin work on 1 November.
Portugal was among the countries which pledged equipment to the renewed assistance. Others include Spain, Finland, France, the Netherlands, and Iceland.
The help comes after the summer season when the majority of migrants attempt the risking crossing of the Mediterranean. More than 165,000 illegal migrants tried it this year so far, almost treble the number in 2013.
Hundreds died in that effort this summer. Most of the sea crossings begin in Libya, which Frontex describes as "a de facto failed state without a functioning law enforcement".
A joint EU police operation is underway to gain information from the migrants about the criminal people-smuggling gangs behind the operations in order to target efforts aga
