MILAN (AP) — French far right leader Marine Le Pen is in Italy headlining a convention of European far-right parties, just weeks after her National Front suffered a stinging defeat in regional French elections.

Le Pen was joined Thursday by Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy's Northern League, which shares the Front's anti-immigrant and Euroskeptic line.

In opening remarks, Le Pen said the influx of migrants arriving on the continent would "impoverish European nations and kill their civility forever."

The rally is being billed by organizers as the first congress of the Europe of Nations and Freedom group within the European Parliament, which was formed last year.