Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, said Italy was working with the European Union (EU) on a deal to pay money to Libya to stop immigrants' boats from leaving Libyan shores to European ones.

Reuters reported the Italian newspaper as saying that Prime Minister Mario Draghi could propose this deal to the EU leaders in a summit on May 24-25, adding that the deal could be similar to that signed with Turkey to halt immigrants' influx in 2016.

Reuters said this effort comes after the latest hike in immigrants' flow from Libya to Italy, whose Lampedusa island saw the arrival of over 2000 immigrants since last Sunday.

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