article_snippet.sent: For several years as death tolls mounted, EU leaders have done little more than deplore the loss of lives and mark tragedies with moments of silence and wreaths instead of fundamental action.
article_snippet.sent: In contrast to the Italian premier, the head of another Mediterranean nation on the frontline of the tragedies was far less enthusiastic.
article_snippet.sent: For tiny Malta, the smallest EU member state with a population of 450,000, the summit produced nothing particularly new, apart from a fresh resolve to break up the smuggling networks.
article_snippet.sent: Ending that is Europe's main challenge.
article_snippet.sent: There are two rival governments, neither with any real authority, and each fighting the other on the ground.
article_snippet.sent: The makes any military action against traffickers there even more complicated. '
article_snippet.sent: Any kind of military action can only be based on international law,' said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. '
article_snippet.sent: Europe was hardly a picture of unity when Europe came to the difficult issue of resettling migrants.