Pope Francis expressed "concern for the situation of displaced people in various parts of the world", highlighting the urgent need to "renew the commitment to the protection of refugees and people fleeing violence and persecution."
Europe is increasing pressure on African countries to take back migrants in exchange for development aid. But the EU should instead be focusing on creating safe routes to seek protection, analysts have warned.
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte and Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio have urged Europe to display more courage and commitment regarding the new pact on migration. The politicians consider the reform plan "insufficient," albeit a "good starting point."
Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain say that the new migration pact – as proposed by the European Commission – fails to do enough to systemically redistribute new migrants arriving in the southern EU member states. The four Mediterranean countries expressed their demands in a discussion paper seen by the German news agency dpa.
More than four months ago the Greek government evicted around 11,000 recognized refugees from camps and reception facilities. Today, many remain homeless in central Athens.