ROME, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Italy's Interior Minister Roberto Maroni on Tuesday urged the European Union (EU) to help Mediterranean countries deal with illegal immigration, local media reported.

    Addressing a summit of Mediterranean interior ministers, Maroni said more resources were needed to combat migratory pressure at its root and enable transit countries to effectively manage the large number of African migrants who enter Mediterranean countries en route to Europe.

    The daylong conference in Venice was attended by the EU's Mediterranean countries as well as five North African states: Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania.

    "It is to be hoped the Mediterranean will receive enough resources and attention to help it deal with the great challenges posed by immigration to this area," Maroni said.

    "In order to better manage legal immigration, the procedures for fighting illegal immigration and human trafficking must first be strengthened," he added.

    Italy's centre-right government has put the fight against illegal immigration at the top of its agenda and has introduced measures such as deporting illegal migrants intercepted in international waters.

    Italy, as with most Mediterranean countries, faces high numbers of illegal immigrants arriving along its frontiers and has repeatedly urged a European burden-sharing approach to solve related issues following several tragedies at sea.

    Maroni said the EU's home affairs policy for the next five years, the so-called Stockholm Program, which is expected to be finalized and signed at the EU summit in mid-December, provided a "historic" opportunity to reduce pressure caused by illegal immigration.

    Meanwhile, at a bilateral meeting held in Rome on Tuesday, the illegal immigration issue was also discussed between Italian Welfare Minister Maurizio Sacconi and his Spanish counterpart, Celestino Corbacho.

    Both agreed on the need for "more robust cooperation in tackling migration flows" and reiterated calls for "a coordinated European immigration policy".

    Ahead of Tuesday's conference, Maroni also exchanged views with French Immigration Minister Eric Besson on migration matters.

    Sources said the two sides agreed during the meeting to raise joint proposals for additional resources at the next European council of interior ministers at the end of November.

    The Italian government has adopted a common approach several times with France's centre-right government, led by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

    Last month, Sarkozy and Italy's Premier Berlusconi sent a joint letter to the European Commission calling for "concrete decisions and actions" in origin countries of migrants.