Refugee organisation Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland said on Friday it is disappointed with the results of the EU summit in Brussels, at which leaders discussed ways to solve the issue of African migration.

‘It is extremely disappointing that the EU is not capable of finding solutions which contribute to the protection of refugees,’ the organisation said.

Europe is shifting the responsibility for offering help to people in trouble to others and keeping its borders closed, the group said. ‘Nor is there any solution to the situation of refugees in the Mediterranean Sea.’

The organisation also referred to the ‘inhuman conditions’ in which refugees are living in Italy and Greece, which, it said, did not come up for discussion. ‘Instead, EU ministers want to lock up refugees in new, closed centres in southern Europe.’

Much remains unclear about the agreement struck by ministers at a 10 hour meeting.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte told reporters after the meeting that it was not simple to come to a deal.

‘And I am not going to say we have solved the issue,’ he said. ‘But we have taken a big step forward and after eight years in Brussels, I know Europe means doing things step by step.’