ROME, Aug. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu urged European countries on Sunday to take joint measures to effectively prevent illegal migrants from flooding into Europe.

    Containing illegal immigration needs broad international cooperation and coordinated actions by European countries, said Pisanu, who asked the European Union (EU) to be fully responsible for curbing an illegal immigrant flow into Europe.

    Italy should not be left alone to face the mounting pressure from illegal immigration, the minister added, underscoring the importance of cooperation between EU members and countries of would-be illegal migrants.

    Pisanu's comments followed an illegal immigration boat tragedy on Sunday which claimed at least 25 lives.

    The illegal immigrants died of thirst and exhaustion aboard a creaky boat as they tried to reach Italy from North Africa.

    The migrant deaths sparked fears about security in Italy, whichhas long been harassed by illegal immigration.

    Italy, with a long coastline along the Mediterranean Sea, has been used by illegal migrants as a transit country to enter other European countries. Enditem