She said many countries that used to emphasize family reunification are now denying migrants opportunities to be reunified with their families as well as community-based sponsorship and labor programs.

"We're really underlining to the EU the need for regional and coordinated mechanism for the processing of asylum seekers, as well as fair and shared responsibility of caring for those who are fleeing violence and persecution," she said.

Only about 23,400 refugees and migrants arrived in Italy in 2018, a fivefold decrease compared to the previous year, and "that's more of a reflection of the deterrent and unwelcoming policies and communal sentiment that people (migrants) are facing," Ghedini-Williams said.

Greece received some 32,500 sea arrivals compared to 30,000 in 2017, but saw a near threefold increase in the number of people arriving via its land border with Turkey.

Elsewhere in Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded some 24,000 arrivals as refugees and migrants transited through the Western Balkans; Cyprus received several boats carrying Syrian refugees from Lebanon while Britain witnessed small numbers crossing from France towards the end of 2018.

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