MEPs present their demands and expectations ahead of the EU summit on 29-30 June. At their meeting in Brussels, heads of state or government are set to focus in particular on the steps on the Migration Pact recently reached within the Council of the EU, and EU relations with third countries. Extracts from the debate.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

Immigration (T2)

REINTKE, Terry (Greens/EFA, DE)

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

RANGEL, Paulo (EPP, PT)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

asylum procedures in the EU (T)

AZMANI, Malik (Renew, NL)

PROCACCINI, Nicola (ECR, IT)

new pact on asylum and migration (T)

ROSWALL, Jessika (SE)

European Council meeting 29-30 June 2023 (T)

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023, in particular in the light of recent steps towards concluding the Migration Pact: extracts from the debate

Title: Preparation of the European Council meeting of 29-30 June 2023: extracts from the debate (EbS) 

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, The presidency of the Commission will inform the implementation of the conclusions of migration from February and March. At this time, it will be in the positive spirit of the New Deal of the migration Pact in the Council. The Swedish presidency has worked hard for this, and we are proud that the council is now ready to go into final stage and find a compromise between the co-legislators. We urgently need a deal that can deliver results.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&#353; &#352;EF&#268;OVI&#268;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, I would like to commend and thank the European Parliament for having adopted its negotiation mandates on key files of the pact already in April, because we know that this is massive, massive work beats on screening regulation, asylum and migration management regulation, asylum procedure, regulation and crisis proposals. But this just proves and shows that the large majority across the political groups supports this reform. The position of co-legislators offer a good foundation for the negotiations and therefore interinstitutional negotiation should now intensify. It is essential that we all remain committed and open to compromise, to create a fairer, more efficient and sustainable system for asylum and migration management.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), As we move forward in the migration pact negotiations, what we should remember here is what Pope John 23rd said. Human dignity. All human beings are people. So human dignity means that we have to provide. Proper treatment and reception for refugees who cross our borders. But despite what certain groups are saying in this House, we can only do this by guaranteeing secure borders, making certain that all frontiers are protected. That's the only way we can deal with human trafficking.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), The principle of flexible but mandatory solidarity agreed in council doesn't go far enough. What reception countries in the fur of the front line need are clear management policies when it comes to arrival and a fair division as far as reception is.

SOUNDBITE (English), Malik AZMANI (Renew, NL), We need to invest more in the root causes of migration. We need to be generous to those refugees who seek shelter and deserve our decency. And we need to ensure that the first safe harbour is close to conflict zones so people can return to normality once it occurs. We need to ensure that Europe is not a human trafficking paradise and its human trade routes are cut off. And yes, third countries that have become transit countries need also to take their responsibility. But so do we. By getting this migration pact over the finish line.

SOUNDBITE (English), Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), Yes, it is true. A lot of people are seeking asylum in the European Union right now. They have names, they have stories, and they have hope to find shelter in the European Union. And yes, the current the current asylum system in the European Union is dysfunctional and needs reform. I think almost everybody agrees on that. And yes, finding political agreement in a context of a mostly toxic debate that is driven by fears rather than facts is very difficult.

SOUNDBITE (English), Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), But colleagues, right now, the whole story that's still far too many politicians are selling to people in Europe about migration and asylum is simply not working. And that story is tougher rules, less refugees, more walls, less refugees, more fences, less refugees. I get that this is an easy sell and that a lot of politicians find it easier not to get into the difficult, complex reality of things. But these lines are simply wrong, and there will be no breakthroughs, no improvements of the situation, but only frustration and more hardship at our external borders.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Nicola PROCACCINI (ECR, IT), For us European Conservatives refugees in Europe need to be able to enter in a legal way and in a safe way. We therefore need to recognise the right to asylum only for those who are fleeing war and persecution. We need to work on the external dimension and we need to address the issues in transit countries. This is vital in order to ensure that we don't simply outsource our border control to NGOs or traffickers or smugglers.