Italian President Sergio
Mattarella said Monday that European Union members are capable
of absorbing migrants arriving on the shores of Italy and Spain,
which he described as "the shores of Europe".
"No one can ignore the fact that refugees who arrive on our
shores are seeking (life) in the EU and no one can deny that the
Union can absorb them," the president said.
Mattarella said that he was "confident" that heightened
world attention to the plight of migrants would be helpful in
focusing EU attention.
"All this international activity bodes well: it has
increased the collective consciousness and I am confident that
we will see the EU take its proper role".
He also said that Europe must take "forward action" on
Libya now to avoid greater problems in the future.
Libya has become a launching ground for human traffickers
launching migrants across the Mediterranean.
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