"We are witnessing a great humanitarian crisis to which we must not turn a blind eye," Leko said at the summit, adding that this was not only the problem of EU border countries but a European problem which member states need to resolve through joint effort.
"All asylum seekers must receive equal, open, just and solidary treatment in a tolerant manner and free of discrimination. By protecting their fundamental human rights we are protecting the fundamental values of the European community," Leko underscored. He added that Croatia was prepared to more actively participate in addressing this problem and that it had already offered its concrete help.
Leko particularly advocated a resolute fight against people trafficking and against the causes of immigration through cooperation between countries of origin and transit countries.
The declaration calls on EU institutions and heads of state and governments of the Union for the Mediterranean to respect the human dignity of migrants and see migrations as a traditional phenomenon between the two coasts of the Mediterranean. The declaration also recommends an increased number of the issued humanitarian visas, increased migrant intake quotas in all EU countries, stronger assistance to countries of origin and transit countries and stronger cooperation between countries so as to secure re-admission and dignified return of migrants who cannot legally stay in their current countries.
The declaration also calls for stepping up rescue operations in the Mediterranean, better police cooperation in the fight against people trafficking, a joint EU policy for legal migration, equal distribution of the migration burden and successful integration of refugees.