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EU senior officials express shock over migrant deaths

Xinhua, August 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Senior European Union (EU) officials on Thursday expressed shock over recent migrant tragedies, urging joint actions and solidarity among member states in dealing with the migration crisis.

The European Commission's first vice president Frans Timmermans and migration and home affairs commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos made the remarks in a joint statement.

"The news of the 50 migrants found asphyxiated in the hull of a ship last night, and the lost souls of 20 or more migrants discovered abandoned in a truck on an Austrian highway today are frankly shocking," they said, calling the tragedies sinister, criminal acts, carried out by smugglers.

The officials said the situation was a European crisis and as such, required a collective European response.

They outlined some measures proposed by the Commission, such as increasing the EU presence at sea, cooperating with countries of origin and transit, and clamping down on smuggling networks.

"We have to address the issue from all angles. We already announced that further proposals will come soon," the officials said, adding that "Now is the moment for joint actions, and solidarity with all member states and our partner countries in the region." Endit