The head of the United Nations' refugees agency has criticised the politicisation of migration in European elections, and warned that demonising refugees would create problems, and make it harder to develop and implement solutions.
Filippo Grandi, an Italian diplomant who leads the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), was speaking after far-right parties made significant gains across much of the continent in elections to the European Parliament.
He expressed concern that "the refugee-migration theme has become so politicised in these elections", because "some politicians have manipulated it, have portrayed it as a threat, as a risk".
With countries tightening migration policies across the EU in recent years, a tilt to the right in the European Parliament is expected to further influence the bloc's migration and asylum agenda.
Mr Grandi acknowledged that swelling numbers of refugees and migrants could pose significant challenges, "first and foremost for the people that are on the move, but also for the people hosting and receiving them".
But he warned against making claims of "an invasion" of "ill-intentioned people that come here to steal your jobs, threaten your values, your security".
Building barriers "does not solve the problem," he said, and it "increases irregularity of movements which are more difficult to manage".
'Deep trouble'
Instead of scapegoating refugees and migrants, Mr Grandi encouraged countries to work together on addressing the root causes which are pushing people out of their homes and countries.
Such an approach would be in Europe's "self-interest", he said.
He pointed to the largely neglected conflict raging in Sudan that in recent months has spurred a "steep rise" in the numbers of Sudanese refugees fleeing "into North Africa, Libya, Tunisia and then across to Italy".
"There's no point in screaming and anguishing about these flows when... not enough is done to stop the reasons why they're coming," he said.
Dealing with root causes and dismal conditions along migration routes that spur people to keep moving may be "less sexy in terms of political attraction, but that's the right way to go".
"Unless we do that, this problem will become bigger, and then there will be no slogans to counter it, because we will all be in deep trouble."
'Backtracking'
Speaking to journalists, Grandi voiced hope that the anti-migrant rhetoric in Europe would die down now that the EU Parliament voting was over, and politicians would focus on getting "to work".
The UNHCR "will work with whoever will be part of the European institutions," he said.
But he warned that the results could impact attitudes far beyond the continent.
"Everybody looks at Europe in terms of how they deal with these matters."
Mr Grandi noted that the majority of people on the move globally were not heading for Europe.
"The number of people who have crossed the Mediterranean in the first few months of this year is about 60-70,000, that we know about," he said.
Chad meanwhile "has received 600,000 Sudanese (refugees) in a year: 10 times more".
If rich countries backtrack on the principles guaranteeing people the right to cross borders in order to flee violence and oppression, Mr Grandi said he was "very worried that we will start hearing other countries backtracking too".
