European Council Urges to Address Root Causes of Migration

EU member nations must equally share responsibility for the implementation and funding of a joint comprehensive immigration policy, according to the European Council.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The European Council adopted conclusions on illegal migration on Monday, calling on the European Union to urgently address human smuggling and trafficking at the root cause.

Europe has been struggling with a surge of illegal immigration over the past year as multiple conflicts in Africa and the Middle East have forced millions to flee war and poverty in their homelands.

The 28-nation union’s main political body said in its five-point list of recommendation that, "A broader foreign and security policy approach is essential to strengthen cooperation with countries of origin and transit aiming at addressing root causes of and preventing irregular migration."

EU member nations must equally share responsibility for the implementation and funding of a joint comprehensive immigration policy, and intensify work with the countries that lie within the major migratory routes, the EU policy-maker said in a statement.

European nations will meet for the upcoming November 11-12 Valletta Summit in Malta to discuss migration with African partners. High-level talks will focus on stemming the flow of undocumented immigration from Africa to Europe, including areas along the Western Balkans route.

Hungary had offered to host the summit, in an attempt to draw attention to its urgently pressing issue of African migrants entering the European Union through Hungary’s southern border. Earlier this month, Hungary began the construction of a 110-mile fence with its southern neighbor Serbia.