Italy is considering a measure that would issue new migrant quotas and task multiple ministries with managing migration under the direction of the prime minister.

The establishment of harsher measures against human trafficking are also under discussion, as well as new procedures to simplify backlogged migration processes, from repatriation to reception to the granting of asylum.

Cabinet at Cutro to discuss migration

In late December, the maximum quota for migrant entrances was set at 82,705 -- which includes the 44,000 entrances granted for seasonal work -- and a controversial decree was issued on NGO migrant rescue ships.

Lawmakers are now discussing harsher penalties for traffickers and the idea of setting an annual quota for the entrance of 100,000 documented foreigners.

Today (March 7), Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi will discuss the Cutro incident in an urgent informational meeting in the lower house of the Italian Parliament.

The meeting will address why Italy's financial police and coast guard failed to launch a rescue in response to Frontex's reported sightings of the boat in the Ionian Sea.

The issue of migration will also be dealt with in a Cabinet meeting in Cutro, the site of the deadly incident, on Thursday.

Joint front with Med 5 nations to prevent further deaths

The topics will also be discussed in Brussels later this week at a European Council meeting.

During a recent Med 5 summit -- which included representatives from Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Spain -- all five countries signed a document vowing to counter the undocumented departure of migrant boats, increase repatriations and border surveillance with Frontex and --for the states experiencing the highest level of migratory pressure -- enable autonomous decisions on border procedures.

The group wants to counter undocumented migration by strengthening bilateral relations and facilitating more repatriations.

Italy and the four other Mediterranean countries, which overall experience the heaviest levels of undocumented migration, should -- according to the document drawn up over the weekend at the Malta summit -- benefit from an exception to obligatory border procedures and instead "be able to decide regarding the application of these procedures on the basis of their capacity and the possibility for repatriation".

At the meeting in Brussels, member states will request the "setting up of a permanent and obligatory solidarity mechanism that takes into account the real needs of member states".