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The European Commissioner for migration claimed while previous surges have taken the bloc by “surprise” they are now ready to welcome new refugees from across the globe. European Union leaders have been trying to stem the flow of the thousands of migrants making the dangerous crossing over the Mediterranean from African countries. However, migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said it was a “noble” deed to assist the some “60 million refugees” across the globe. Speaking on CNN, the Greek said: “It is not only noble, it has to do with the reality.

CNN•GETTY The EU Commissioner for migration has claimed the bloc is ready

We have been taken by surprise in the beginning but now we are better prepared Dimitris Avramopoulos

“Today more than 200 million people around the world are migrants and approximately 60 million people are refugees. “It is a global issue, and in Europe, we have to be very frank and clear. We have been taken by surprise in the beginning but now we are better prepared. “And during this period we worked together with the America authorities in order to copy somehow – adopt the same best practices they have used for over 100 years.” Mr Avramopoulos is visiting the United States, where he hopes to persuade Donald Trump to join the global effort battling the migrant crisis.

As the first senior Brussels official to visit Washington since the President’s inauguration, he will tell the new US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly that they cannot shut its doors on refugees despite the executive orders. The EU is trying to curb immigration after some 1.6 million people arrived in the bloc between 2014-2016, an uncontrolled influx that stirred political tension between member states and was a driving force behind Brexit. While the bloc has resorted to tightening its own borders and tightening asylum rules they have refused to match President Trump’s so-called Muslin ban, which EU leaders have slammed. Mr Avramopoulos added: “I represent the European Commission and the European Commission has a very clear policy on migration based on values principles.

Europe in Crisis Sun, February 5, 2017 Terrorism, migrants, and crippling debt: is this the end of Europe? Play slideshow 1 of 11