Juncker pays tribute to Italy for saving EU honor in migrant crisis

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 13 - EU Commission President Jean Claude Juncker on Wednesday in his State of the Union address said ''I cannot talk about immigration without paying tribute to Italy for its generosity. Italy has saved Europe's honor in the Mediterranean''.
    ''We must put an end to hosting conditions in Libya with the utmost urgency'', he continued, describing them as ''scandalous'' and adding he was ''horrified'' by them, stressing that the EU has a ''common responsibility'' in this. ''Europe is not a fortress, it is and will remain a continent of solidarity for those who need refuge'', he added: ''At the end of the month, the European Commission will outline a number of proposals on repatriations, solidarity with Africa and the opening of legal pathways''. ''We must considerably intensify our efforts and our actions on the repatriation'' of migrants who have no right to stay in the EU. ''Only in this way will Europe be able to prove its solidarity towards refugees that really need it''. (ANSAmed).