en 
“Portugal, in the past, made a commitment within the scope of the [European] voluntary solidarity mechanism. We have always expressed our solidarity and availability to welcome migrants when these situations occur”, said the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Tiago Antunes.
Speaking to the Portuguese press in Brussels at the end of a General Affairs Council, which took place days after the European announcement of a new plan to face the migratory emergency in the European Union (EU), the government official added: “Faced with the great pressure that is occurs or when there is a shipwreck, our attitude is always one of solidarity and willingness to welcome, within the framework of this voluntary solidarity mechanism”.
The Secretary of State did not provide numbers, reiterating: “Naturally, we have already expressed our availability to welcome some people”.
For Tiago Antunes, “there are very big challenges” in the migration issue, and “we need to put an end to the business of human traffickers” and “create regular and safe migration channels”.
Last Sunday, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, presented, in Lampedusa, an action plan to combat irregular immigration and stated that "Italy can count on the European Union", following the arrival of more than 10,000 migrants to that location - more than the population of the closest Italian island to Africa - in just three days.
The 10-point action plan includes expanding EU naval missions in the Mediterranean or creating a new one, faster repatriations of people whose asylum claims are rejected and humanitarian corridors for legal arrivals.
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Anyone who has seen the Lampedusa videos, knows that there are ZERO women or children. The people on Lampedusa are afraid to leave their houses, not just at night, but during the day too. ALL the arrivals are men between 16 - 35 years old. Hence, they are not 'migrants'. They are invaders!
By Hart from Lisbon on 20 Sep 2023, 12:53
More lies from this untrustworthy government after saying they will stop it. Selling it's soul for money from Americans when will it stop. Think about our own people for once. !!!!!!!!
By J from Lisbon on 20 Sep 2023, 13:47
Be careful what you wish for. !!!!
By J from Lisbon on 20 Sep 2023, 14:05
"Be careful what you wish for" from J.
Dear J, although I find your insistence on misspelling 'nonsense' a bit annoying (you use this word a lot, clearly like it, please spell it correctly) I must tell you something: NOBODY wishes this. At least nobody of us mere mortals, anywhere in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Britain. It is FORCED upon us by our politicians, and the media, who don't ask our permission, but take our money, and then destroy our cities.
Nobody sane can look at this insanity and start throwing confetti and welcome balloons. And whoever believes that all of this is completely normal, should be forced to house, clothe and feed these so-called "migrants"!
By Hart from Lisbon on 20 Sep 2023, 16:02
I agree with Hart from Lisbon. Why are they all fighting age men? Where are their wives and children? Seems very strange to me that they are ALL MEN!!!
By aju from Beiras on 21 Sep 2023, 07:39
Illegal immigration into Europe is THE defining issue of our time, and there is no political will to protect the European people from this.
Welfare states and open borders are a disasterous combination; our fiscal burden is high enough as is and our social services already overstretched.
Add to this the modern Leftist insistence that Western culture is fundamentally racist and should be subverted and you have a toxic mix of uneducated "visitors" who arrive with a sense of entitlement and who leverage our tolerance and rights-based ethics against us and the institutions our forefathers created.
By Quentin Ferreira from Lisbon on 21 Sep 2023, 09:57
Those that have the power to stop the influx of illegals, won’t. Those in power that are letting this happen are in fact the biggest traffickers. Those in power do not care for their country or the indigenous people, just looking good on the world stage and filling their own pockets and spending your money on people that have never contributed at all. Disgusting
By JG from Algarve on 22 Sep 2023, 04:18
Look whats happening here in the US. We are getting swamped by thousands of ilegal immigrants on a daily basis. Where are you going to put all these people and where are all the jobs availabe for them? Also who are they? No one is getting vetted they could be terrorists for all we know. Yet they are being called "asylum seekers" and "migrants". This is whats going to happen to not just Portugal, but to the rest of Europe .
By Tony B from USA on 22 Sep 2023, 15:03