EU launches coordination plan after migration row

European ministers have agreed to a new 20-point migration plan, after rows over civil rescue ship Ocean Viking exposed major fault lines in EU migration policy.

France called an extraordinary meeting on Friday, attended by all 27 member states. 

As part of the latest proposals, the EU is looking for stronger cooperation with countries such as Libya, Tunisia or Egypt to prevent departures from their territories - as well as to intensify deportations of migrants who arrive by irregular routes.

Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told journalists that "more can and must be done" to find a lasting solution, after the meeting.

The status quo was shaken earlier in November after France and Italy traded blame over an NGO vessel full of rescued migrants was left stranded at sea for weeks.

The Ocean Viking, operated by a French NGO, had picked up the migrants at sea near the Libyan coast before spending weeks seeking a port to accept them.

France had never before allowed a rescue vessel carrying migrants from the Mediterranean to land on its coast, but did so this time because Italy had refused access.

At the time, France accused Italy of failing to respect maritime law by turning away a vessel seeking a port of safety.

But both Italy and Greece have long argued that the current system places disproportionate burden on them - as they have significant sea borders with North Africa. 

Under the infamous Dublin regulation, people wishing to settle in Europe that arrive without a visa must register in the first EU country they entered.

It’s not clear that the new coordination plan would change the underlying dynamics of migration to Europe, however. 

Stephanie Pope, an expert on migration for aid agency Oxfam, dubbed Brussels' plan "just another reshuffle of old ideas that do not work."