Debate during the plenary session of October in Brussels on the Preparation of the European Council meeting (15-16 October 2015). Statements by Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), Sophia IN'T VELD (ALDE, NL), Patrick LE HYARIC (GUE/NGL, FR) and Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE) on finding a common approach on the migration and refugee crisis with focus on Turkey and Syria and on the process concerning the United Kingdom' plans for an (in/out) referendum

Brussels

Brexit (T)

EU - Syria (T)

debate

plenary session

EU - Türkiye (T)

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

PITTELLA, Gianni (S&D, IT)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

LE HYARIC, Patrick (GUE/NGL, FR)

KAMALL, Syed (ECR, UK)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

European Council meeting 15-16 October 2015 (T)

HARMS, Rebecca (Greens/EFA, DE)

Preparation of the European Council meeting (15-16 October 2015): MEPs debate

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Frustration is what we are having in Brussels towards the EU Member States. We have announcements of new staff, new money, nothing happening. Changing the procedure is making things more streamline. Turkey being a safe country, this is having the support of the Commission but ministers of interiors didn't decided yet. Let's stop saying that everything is Brussels fault. It's not Brussels, i'tis not the EU institutions failing. What are failing here are the national egoisms. Member States have to take up their role, and take their responsibility.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), This is a structural problem, it is not an ad-hoc problem. It will not be solved out within a few months, it needs years. Therefore we need a broad strategy. And in my opinion first of all we should address Syria. Syria is one of the main causes of the flow of migrants and refugees.

SOUNDBITE (English), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), Of course at the end of the EU referendum Cameron wants a better deal for the UK. But all of us here should want a better deal for the EU. So to all my friends here in this house, if you really want the UK to remain a member of the EU help the British government to achieve these reforms. Dance tango with us. But if you want us to leave, so you can continue to construct the United States of Europe, tell the UK to stop wasting its time, and close your mind to reforms. On the refugee crises, let's get away from polarising the debate. Tell the people that you are either pro-immigration, or you are either anti-immigration. Saying let them all in, or let no one in, that we should do something, or we should do nothing.  We actually achieved very little, so therefore in preparation for the summit I hope leaders look to insure the basic foundations of a basic and cooperative asylum system are in place.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (ALDE, NL), We understand that the future of EU will be decided in a dance contest, and I cannot wait to see Mr Juncker with Mr Cameron in his arms. I just want to underline that the future of Europe is decided in a open, transparent and public debate, in a democratic process and not in back room deals.

SOUNDBITE (French), Patrick LE HYARIC (GUE/NGL, FR), The solution is not to make our neighbours become border guards, even if we have to help the countries which taken millions of refugees. Concerning Turkey, yes, compassion and solidarity with the Turkish people but be prudent with Mr Erdogan. We have had already terrible experiences with Tunisia and Libya when, at the time, they played somehow this role of border guards. We have to fight the migration causes: the poverty, the repressions, the wars and the terrorism. For this we need a better coordination on wider diplomatic actions, like an international coalition under UN umbrella, against Daesh. There is also a need to stop plundering and exploiting Africa, we have to stop those free change agreements which are destroying African agriculture, and their services, and to fight against the fiscal evasion.

SOUNDBITE (German), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), I think you are quite right Mr Juncker, it's an absolute scandal that the Member States didn't step up to support and fund the emergency programmes for Africa and for Syria or for supporting the World Food programme of the UN. These commitments from one side to the next have no back support and make us lose faith in the ability of negotiating of the EU .