Welcome to Portugal, the European country desperate for migrants because its population is shrinking

Unlike most European nations, who are trying to reduce the influx of migrants, Portugal is bucking the trend by looking to immigration as a way to counter its declining population.

“We need more immigration and we won’t tolerate any xenophobic rhetoric,” Prime Minister Antonio Costa told activists at a party conference in May, drawing resounding applause.

Demonstrating this openness, Portugal was one of the first that volunteered to take in some of the migrants on board the Lifeline, a rescue ship which had been stranded at sea since June 21 after Italy refused it safe harbour.

And as European leaders struggled to reach a deal at a summit last week over who should take in migrants rescued off the coast of North Africa, Portugal’s socialist government was already taking steps to make itself a more attractive destination.

“It was a very difficult summit and the apparent consensus reached in the deal did not hide the deep divisions which are today threatening the European Union,” Costa said after leaving the summit.

And Friday’s election of former Portuguese minister Antonio Vitorino as head of the International Organization for Migration “demonstrates the great importance that Portugal places on dialogue about the issue,” the foreign ministry said.