With the latest figures showing that over the last 15 years at least 31 000 people have died or gone missing while trying to reach Europe, the EU must let human rights be the focus at Valletta and not prioritise the EU's own agenda of tightened borders and increased state security.

Oxfam is calling for greater commitment to human security and human rights, sustainable development and prevention of violent conflict. Increased securitisation of border control, and greater criminalisation of irregular migration, will only increase human suffering and the risks to people’s safety.