Spain: EU needs to discuss Italy migrant request

Spain's foreign minister says that all European Union members need to discuss Italy's proposal for other countries in the bloc to open their ports to ships carrying rescued migrants.

Alfonso Dastis told journalists in Madrid that "our position is that exceptional situations require exceptional measures as a response, but they need to be discussed among all countries."

Italy has pleaded for help as thousands of migrants and refugees pour onto its shores. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, decried an "unfolding tragedy" in the country.

Dastis said that Spain "hasn't received a formal request" about receiving some of the migrants. He said that he expected the issue to be discussed by EU interior ministers and foreign ministers at separate meetings Thursday.