LISBON, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro on Tuesday defended the country's approach to migration as a model of regulated reception and integration, contrasting it with what he described as the "lack of regulation of migration flows" seen elsewhere.
According to Lusa News Agency, Montenegro said Portugal was working to ensure that migrants arriving in the country could live with dignity through access to employment, housing, healthcare, education and mobility.
He argued that countries with pull-effect migration policies often attracted migrants without providing sufficient conditions for their reception and integration.
He made the remarks following an emergency video meeting of European Union (EU) interior ministers on the migrant influx into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. EU ministers agreed Tuesday that border reinforcement and stronger migrant return mechanisms are necessary.
Spain's interior ministry said about 72,000 people had entered Ceuta irregularly within 24 hours last week, with around 70,000 having since returned to Morocco. ■