Following negotiations, President Metsola and MEPs in charge of Parliament’s position on the asylum and migration pact hold a press conference. This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

press conference

LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Juan Fernando (S&D, ES)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

KELLER, Fabienne (Renew, FR)

TOBÉ, Tomas (EPP, SE)

president's agenda

new pact on asylum and migration (T)

Delivery EE2024 (T)

Press conference by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D), Tomas TOBÉ (SE, EPP) and Fabienne KELLER (FR, Renew), Rapporteurs on the outcome of the migration trilogue

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Thank you very much. And good morning to you all. Today is truly a historic day. I am surrounded by colleagues who have not slept for days and nights in a very, I would say, also emotional moment. I start from a personal angle. You know, I come from an island in the Mediterranean and I know exactly what it means when we say that we have finally delivered on the migration and Asylum pact. Probably the most important, important legislative deal of this mandate. It was the number one concern of our citizens in 2019.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President, It still remains the number one concern for many. So this is an agreement that is more than ten years in the making. One thing that when I came to the parliament ten years ago, it was the first issue I spoke about. I would never have thought it would have taken us ten years to say we managed. Now the Parliament came to this negotiation on the migration pact with a very pragmatic line. Europe needs a robust legislative framework that is the same in all member states, one that functions and that protects an approach that is humane and fair with those who are seeking of protection, that is firm with those who are not eligible, and that is strong with those who exploit the most vulnerable.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President, My colleagues have managed to find a balance between solidarity and responsibility across all files. It was not easy, but it only makes this achievement even more important. We have defied the odds and proven that Europe can deliver on the issue that matters to citizens. This package will really make a difference. Taking it back quickly. In September 2022, we signed together with five rotating council presidencies, an unprecedented joint road map in order to adopt the reform bill beyond before the end of this year. We just about made it, but it also means that we can manage to showcase this unprecedented reform before next year's elections.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President, And we really, I think, have shown that whereas up there where there is a political will, there is a way. Now we are aware that there is no perfect solution. It is not a perfect package on the table and it does not look at the solutions to all complex issues. But what we do have on the table is far better for all of us than we have had previously. We can demonstrate that Europe has the solutions and that Europe can deliver.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President, I would like to extend my warmest thanks to the rapporteurs Tomas TOBÉ, Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, Fabienne KELLER, Brigit SIPPEL, and Jorge BUXADÉ VILLALBA who have worked so hard to achieve this result. I also want to make a mention to Sophia IN 'T VELD, Matjaž NEMEC, and Malin BJÖRK, whose files are already in in the agreement, but which have remained open as the pact needed to move as a package. I also want to express, thanks to Elena YONCHEVA who coordinated the Asylum Contact Group on all these files.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Of course, this is thanks also due to consecutive presidencies. Last but not least, to the Spanish ambassador and his team, in particular Commissioner Johansson and Vice-President Skinner's all the negotiating teams, our administrators and assistants who have worked tirelessly to reach this provisional agreement. I wish good luck for the Belgian presidency now and the teams in finalising the work and bringing these files across across the finishing line. And the Belgian Prime Minister assured me last week during the European Council that he was ready to take it on from the Spanish. One last words We can really be proud of Europe today.

SOUNDBITE (English) Roberta METSOLA, EP President, The agreement before the end of this year is a huge success for the constructive pro-European centre ahead of an election year in Europe. We had promised it to our citizens and now we are delivering. It all comes down to Europe taking the lead and we do it our way and we do it responsibly by addressing topics that are important for our people. I will stop here and give the floor to rapporteurs.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tomas TOBÉ (SE, EPP) Well, thank you, President. And I must say that I fully agree that I feel proud today. Proud for Europe after seven years. Of political deadlock. We are finally there. We did it. And I think we are really at a crossroad now. We either are on the path to where member states independence, they try to handle the immigration issue or we try to find different ad hoc solutions. But now, finally, finally, we will have a comprehensive approach, both when it comes to the internal and external dimension of the we will work together and we will cooperate.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tomas TOBÉ (SE, EPP) And I also do strongly believe that this will rebuild trust, not only rebuild trust between member states, but also rebuild trust from citizens that wants us to handle migration in a better way. The rum file amama depending on your favourite friend to that to say it, it has been a very tough negotiator in negotiations. Let me be clear on that. But I must say that I am very thankful to all my shadows, the support from the President, the support from commission and also council to finally make the perfect balance that makes us build a majority that I hope is going to be strong behind this migration pact.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tomas TOBÉ (SE, EPP) We will now finally have a binding solidarity mechanism. This is not a small thing. This will mean that we will finally have every member state actually taking responsibility, not only a few member states. Yes, this will be done through flexible and voluntary contributions. I would like from the European Parliament to raise one specific question. That was one that we negotiated to the very end, that it was extremely important for the European Parliament and that is, of course, that we have many member states that come under specific migratory pressure due to search and rescue. And I think it is clear now that what you will find also in the agreement, we have now finally a recognition that we have member states that are under a special migratory pressure due to SAA, and we will also have a clear earmarking percentage of the solidarity pool that we will establish.

SOUNDBITE (English) Tomas TOBÉ (SE, EPP) This will mean a lot for many countries and specifically I would like to mention Italy. Lastly, I would like to say that I also think this is of course about making the situation better for everyone. I would say for migrants that are now in the hands of smugglers. Many of them even unfortunately die on the Mediterranean Sea. We are now slowly taking back the control from the smugglers when it comes to migration in Europe. We will do it with cooperation in third countries, but also make sure that we have a policy that will work also on the ground. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) Good morning to you all and thank you for attending. It is my honour and pleasure to share this podium with President of the European Parliament, Roberto Metsola and my colleagues. And frankly, excusing those rapporteurs couldn't make it because we are coming right out of the conclusion of a lengthy, extremely hard working negotiation. For the last couple of days, I kept saying, good evening, good morning, in continuation. Non stop. Because we have not slept a wink in the last couple of days, two nights overnight, negotiating round the clock and coming out of this negotiation being concluded.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) It is understandable that we are not here to lecture on the technical details, but to make a political assessment. And my political assessment is that, finally, we came to rules, which are to be in place binding for all the member states. So overcoming a situation, which has been described not only as unsatisfactory but untenable. A situation that we have seen so far, a sequence of action, reaction, no strategy, no far sighted European scale of response. That means individual Member States were left on their own and European citizens crying out 'where is Europe' whenever they have seen themselves in such situations in our streets.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) You talked of Malta. You come from an island and have seen it real tough. I come from an island too, the Canaries, who have seen it real tough, and I have heard that cry many times 'where is Europe, where is the European scale of response'. We are putting it in place. We are building up a system. Not easy to negotiate hand-in-hand five regulations, and by the same token. Getting back on track some pending files of the last mandate, which resulted in failure. We're making a difference in this mandate because this mandate is not resulting in failure. We are putting up a system of regulations, which are particularly binding for the Member States.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) They're all intertwined. So let me just reassure you that we made the right choice by endorsing the package approach, which we have combined with the Council. All the presidencies in a road map, starting with the French presidency, and now the negotiation concluded and the Spanish presidency. But to be adopted through the next Belgian presidency in this mandate of the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) So in this mandate, the outcome is not failure. It's success because we are putting in place regulations combined all together. Regulation on asylum and migration management, Asylum procedures regulation, Eurodac screening, and the crisis regulation, which is the regulation of which I have been in charge.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) Crisis regulation is a particularly effective scale of solidarity response. It enhances solidarity. In the Commission recommendation, it enhances solidarity going beyond the fair share of individual Member States and responding to the call of solidarity by a Member State, which faces some kind of a massive influx of arrivals into its external border. Combined with force majeure and instrumentalisations of assumptions, we have put in place, first of all, solidarity mechanism, enhanced solidarity responses. When a country sees itself in a crisis situation, then prima facie international protection.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) There was a very strong point for the negotiating team of the European Parliament so that Member States could provide immediate protection to certain categories of vulnerable human beings. Prima facie international protection, maybe because they are coming from a third country which deserves special attention or because they fit into categories that have been set by the European Commission and especially vulnerable. They are to be granted prima facie international protection.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) Then, of course, we have discussed derogations. Through the negotiations have been extremely hard. We have come to limit the derogations that were called by the Member States because the Member States in crisis argue that they need extended timelines in order to meet the requirements of the general asylum system when it comes to registration, when it comes to border procedure. We have worked real hard in order to limit the claim of Member States to have derogations. And then as a positive assessment in all of the crisis, I would highlight the relevance of including search and rescue operation in a situation of crisis that is particularly meant for the so-called front line Member States, those leaning on the Mediterranean and Spain. Leaning not only to the Mediterranean but also to the Atlantic, in which happens to be the most perilous and deadly route to the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) Search and rescue operations and crisis can be declared because of a regional or local level, so it doesn't need to be national. It's certain region, let alone say the Canaries or the islands in Italy. That is also an assumption in order to call for a specially effective solidarity response. And finally, ensuring fundamental rights of the applicants that have been a point very strongly made by the negotiating team so that certain vulnerable situations, including minors and accompanied minors and minors underaged with family members, are to be granted a special consideration even when the derogations are implemented. And all it to be taken care by a European Relocation Coordinator, which is a new institution, a new body in place in order precisely to provide for help, to reach out for the Member States and make sure that solidarity responses are implemented.

SOUNDBITE (English) Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (ES, S&D) So the point I'm making is that should we have not come to this positive outcome in this negotiation, that would have been, in my view, a serious major blow to the European cause. But it didn't happen. What is happening is that we finally achieved it. So we are sending a message that finally the European Union is to honour the mandate of Article 80 of the Treaty functioning of the European Union. Striking some kind of an acceptable, reasonable balance between shared responsibility and solidarity. Binding solidarity, obligatory solidarity. What it needs. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (French) Fabienne KELLER (FR, Renew), Merci beaucoup, je vais, si vous le voulez bien, m'exprimer en fran&ccedil;ais. &Ccedil;a va changer un peu de langue &agrave; mon tour de vous dire voil&agrave; notre &eacute;motion d'avoir obtenu un deal. Emotion d'autant plus grande qu'effectivement, on est un peu affect&eacute;s par le manque de sommeil, notre joie et frustration, enfin ou difficult&eacute;s &agrave; la fois. Parce que construire un compromis, accepter un accord, c'est aussi renoncer et puis obtenir. Et nous pouvons &ecirc;tre tr&egrave;s fiers d'avoir un corpus de textes, un ensemble de textes et dix textes vraiment europ&eacute;ens pour la plupart, &agrave; l'exception de deux, ce sont des r&egrave;glements.

SOUNDBITE (French) Fabienne KELLER, (FR, Renew), Ce seront les m&ecirc;mes, les m&ecirc;mes r&egrave;gles qui s'appliqueront dans tous les &Eacute;tats membres. Et &ccedil;a, c'est une avanc&eacute;e majeure. Face &agrave; cette immense contradiction que nous vivons depuis une trentaine d'ann&eacute;es, la zone Schengen de libre circulation g&eacute;r&eacute;e enti&egrave;rement &agrave; l'&eacute;chelle europ&eacute;enne, et puis l'asile et la migration, une comp&eacute;tence fondamentalement nationale, m&ecirc;me si des directives &eacute;taient d&eacute;j&agrave; applicables.

SOUNDBITE (French) Fabienne KELLER, (FR, Renew), S'agissant de mon texte, un texte qui porte sur les proc&eacute;dures, elles pr&eacute;voient donc que dans l'encha&icirc;nement du de l'enregistrement de toutes les entr&eacute;es irr&eacute;guli&egrave;res aux fronti&egrave;res, c'est le texte screening, une proc&eacute;dure acc&eacute;l&eacute;r&eacute;e &agrave; la fronti&egrave;re pour les personnes qui ont peu de chances d'obtenir le statut de r&eacute;fugi&eacute;. C'est une disposition importante qui va nous permettre de g&eacute;rer mieux et plus efficacement des proc&eacute;dures compl&egrave;tes avec l'ensemble des droits des personnes respect&eacute;es, mais sans tarder, dans un d&eacute;lai maximum de six mois, proc&eacute;dures appels et retours inclus.

SOUNDBITE (French) Fabienne KELLER (FR, Renew), Le reste des personnes seront int&eacute;gr&eacute;es dans la proc&eacute;dure ordinaire. Ces proc&eacute;dures seront aussi plus efficaces pour tous. Nous avons mis une s&eacute;rie de d&eacute;lais en place d'exigences. Ce texte int&egrave;gre &eacute;galement un ensemble de droits suppl&eacute;mentaires, une aide juridique pour chacun d&egrave;s la phase administrative. Elles n'&eacute;taient pas octroy&eacute;es jusque l&agrave;, de mani&egrave;re &agrave; ce que les personnes connaissant parfaitement leurs droits puissent &ecirc;tre inform&eacute;es et conseiller. Tous les mineurs obtiendront un repr&eacute;sentant, c'est &agrave; dire une personne adulte comp&eacute;tente nomm&eacute;e pour la repr&eacute;senter. Consid&eacute;rant que puisque c'est un mineur, il a besoin d'&ecirc;tre, d'&ecirc;tre &eacute;paul&eacute;. Il y a aussi un droit &agrave; &ecirc;tre entendu, droit &agrave; recevoir les explications sur les proc&eacute;dures et un monitoring global des droits fondamentaux.

SOUNDBITE (French) Fabienne KELLER, (FR, Renew), L&agrave;, je voudrais que plut&ocirc;t que de shadow de Tomas TOB&Eacute;, dire combien la solidarit&eacute; obtenue de haute lutte est un pas consid&eacute;rable en avant. Et c'est sa gouvernance qui a fait l'objet de longues discussions centrales, comme le dispositif qu'il a &eacute;voqu&eacute; sur s'agissant des personnes arrivant &agrave; la suite d'un sauvetage en mer en grand nombre. Je voudrais vous dire que je suis profond&eacute;ment humaniste et cette loi avec mon groupe Renew et cette loi respecte pleinement nos valeurs. Elle a &eacute;t&eacute; construite sur une majorit&eacute; classique au Parlement europ&eacute;en, autour du centre, rassemblant socialistes, centristes et PPE.

SOUNDBITE (French) Fabienne KELLER (FR, Renew), Et c'est cela les majorit&eacute;s robustes et qui repr&eacute;sentent bien. Laissons tomber les extr&ecirc;mes de droite ou de gauche. Le c&oelig;ur des &eacute;lecteurs europ&eacute;ens et donc la majorit&eacute; au Parlement europ&eacute;en. Pour toutes ces raisons, nous pouvons nous r&eacute;jouir d'&ecirc;tre ici ce matin, tous ensemble, entourant la pr&eacute;sidente qui n'a pas &eacute;pargn&eacute; son &eacute;nergie pour nous f&eacute;d&eacute;rer, pour nous r&eacute;unir &agrave; des moments d&eacute;licats au cours des trois ann&eacute;es et demi pass&eacute;es.