Bringing together more than 700 participants working on migration at all levels, the conference focused on issues such as addressing irregular migration, promoting integration, tackling the root causes of migration and dismantling the networks of criminal smugglers. Participants included MEPs, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos and senior politicians from countries such as Greece and Libya.
Tajani hit out at populists' response to the migration crisis, accusing them of “sowing contempt and alarm” and “fostering the illusion that we can fortify Europe with walls and borders and simply shut the problems out”. Ahead of the European Council summit, which starts later today, he called for “a comprehensive European strategy that goes to the root of the problem”.
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