The European Union is pledging cash in exchange for help to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean.
European Union and African leaders are meeting in the Maltese capital of Valletta.
They're trying to find a solution for the hundreds of thousands of people entering Europe through the Mediterranean.
The summit was conceived six months ago after the sinking of a boat from Libya with the loss of over 800 lives forced EU governments to step up naval rescue missions.
Now those numbers have been overtaken by people fleeing from conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
EU leaders are expected to use this meeting in Malta to offer countries in Africa billions of dollars in exchange for help with the migrant crisis.
The European Commission is setting up a AU$2.75 billion trust fund for Africa and has urged member states to match that sum.
However Egypt's foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, argues the wealthier countries of Europe should spend more than their poorer neighbours.
"This issue, this is an issue of great concern to all, but it is an issue where those who have the ability and have the resources must undertake and shoulder a greater deal of the responsibility in handling this very important challenge."
The International Organisation for Migration says almost 800,000 people have entered Europe by sea this year.
The EU predicts three million more could arrive by 2017.
European Council President Donald Tusk has stressed the need to address the causes of the migration and ensure people do not risk their lives.
"One of our biggest responsibilities is to address the root causes of the movements we are seeing. It is our jobs as leaders to ensure that people do not feel the need to risk their lives to achieve their aspirations. I look forward to our open and honest discussions and more than that, I hope we will take the necessary action to forge our future cooperation. We have to turn our principles into action."
African Union chair Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma agrees.
She says the summit needs to come up with a plan to tackle the causes behind the mass movement.
"As we gather today on this beautiful island of Malta, the deaths of thousands of Africans in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Sahel places upon all of us a moral obligation to search together for long term sustainable solutions to address this."
Dr Zuma also referred to the past, where countries like New Zealand and Australia were products of European migration.
"Historically, let's recall that the majority of the population in countries like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia - to name but a few - are products of European migration. Africa too, has been a recipient of European migration even before colonialisation."
The meeting also comes at a time when differences among the nations along the refugee route in the Balkans have widened.
Earlier this week, Slovenia - one of the countries on the route to Germany - became the latest EU member to act on its own by barricading its border with a barbed-wire fence.
And Sweden says it will impose temporary border controls as it struggles to receive tens of thousands of refugees and migrants.
Share
