During the Aspen digital roundtable David SASSOLI, EP President gives a statement on Managing migration flows while living with a pandemic. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

round table

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

Speech at the Aspen digital roundtable: Managing migration flows while living with a pandemic - Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/5008036/I201980Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Thanks for the invitation. Thank you for your considerations all very appropriate. I greet my friend Schinas. We are committed together to bring this new pact for immigration and asylum to live. Trying to use all the legal instruments available to us.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The European Parliament is particularly committed to this. There is in the reflection that we can do today, we are still in the midst of the pandemic, perhaps a small exercise. An exercise that leads us to conclusions. Because we have seen this year a global phenomenon such as that of the pandemic triggering unprecedented reactions from European countries and the institutions themselves.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We have seen how a global phenomenon can not be addressed on their own. And all the instruments, all the reflections, the debates, the initiatives, the legislative acts that took place in this year, have led us to common answers. The crisis puts us in a position to change. And the crisis gives us more opportunities, because we understand that no country can respond on its own, that no institution can do it alone, that no region can be self-sufficient compared to phenomena Global.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Here is this paradigm, this example of this year passed so dramatically, but looking for European answers could be the basis for a new vision, and to give, and try to exploit the crisis for focus on European policies. The new Pact on Immigration and Asylum is very important. We greeted him in Parliament. We are, as I repeat, very busy.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, But we are always looking for scams. What I mean to say I mean that we still do not have that endowment of instruments to the European Union to really set in motion a European response with medium- and long-term European policies to the phenomenon immigration. We're late. Our citizens, but you know this very well, have the feeling of living in a very dangerous world. We need to try to reassure them. And how to reassure them on the subject of immigration and asylum management if not with common policies that give Europe different endowments, different legal bases.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We have this need and probably the Covid crisis could push further. Of course, we must be very grateful to the Commission and our Agencies for their work. But the endowment of Europe by the Member States is still insufficient. The episodes that we have seen in recent weeks, since the beginning of the year, the destruction of the Lippia camp in Bosnia and the situation on the Greek island of Lesvos demonstrate this.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We are trying to help countries in difficulty. We do not yet have the strength and the allocation to have medium and long-term policies. It is no secret that immigration has also become the key in the external relations of the European Union is that the minister's remarks are very appropriate and important.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, It is essential to strengthen the aspect of migration in external relations, and this is certainly a priority because this can enable us to improve cooperation, partnerships with the countries of origin and to improve cooperation. Transit and in the absence of good cooperation you know that with many countries any effort to manage migration will be a useless job.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We have a great difficulty, for example, with the countries of North Africa. The impossibility of dialogue between them. Let us notice. We have so many experiences that overlook the Mediterranean and a constant, lack of dialogue between them between their countries between neighbouring countries: Morocco Algeria... We need to have a European look at the possibility of fostering dialogue with each other, so that the answers are more efficient.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We certainly have the problem of a strategic approach. The European Union could also put full emphasis on further development of its immigration partnerships but also certainly guide the international community's efforts to support Low- and middle-income countries.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, You know how much vaccination today regarding the protection of people on Covid 19 is a political problem. As I said, the European Union has struggled to define an ambitious policy, which can provide effective answers but we must increase its strength and capacity.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The crisis can help us in this. The European Parliament has long been fighting to overcome the Dublin system. It is a vulnus that defends genuine cooperation between states based on a permanent mechanism of solidarity and sharing. We must ensure that migrants, asylum seekers in the European Union, get decent treatment, human living conditions throughout the entire application procedure.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Even the situation of migrant minors, especially those unaccompanied, we took care of it with my friend M. Schinas, with regard to the situation in Greece, also with great success, but with an effort to substitute. Because the European Union does not have, as you know, so many possibilities. We can try to capture interest but not impose reception.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The European Union should live up to all this. We're still poor in tools. We need completely new legislative frameworks. The Commission has tabled its proposal. It is a new basis within the framework of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and it is an attempt that is certainly important, commendable, a first step after years of stalemate.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Parliament is working to improve it, on the basis of a new solidarity and accountability pact. We also know that we have a lot of tune with the work of Commissioner Schinas' committee. Taking into account the complexity of the scenario and the post-pandemic scenario that is also discussed in your seminar.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Among these developments, let me mention two aspects. As I have pointed out, it is essential to strengthen the external dimension of immigration and asylum policies, especially in the light of the global increase in migratory pressures caused by the pandemic.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Secondly, legal migration. It is one of the most important aspects that are still missing in the Commission proposal and we hope to succeed in integrating it because the European Parliament would like to support a balanced approach covering all the pillars of the Union's asylum and migration policy, in particular those addressed considering immigration as safe and illegal immigration.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We will commit ourselves to the Member States which have so far demonstrated solidarity in this negotiation. We will ask them to show unity, sense of direction as well as they have shown how to shape the plan for economic recovery, Last year. The time has come for the European Union to take on new responsibilities.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, And let's say it clearly all institutions would like to have more responsibility, to keep up to their role that we know so important, to face the challenges of the globalised world. Indeed, just as in the fight against climate change or in the fight for the elimination of the death penalty or the creation of a fair trade system, union can, and I believe, must play a role in the fight against climate change world leader in its asylum and immigration policies.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The future of the Union, the welfare of our societies, the security of our citizens, the sustainability of our livelihoods will also depend on the ability to take the necessary measures to stop shirking our responsibilities.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, The responsibilities of states, which must have more confidence in the European Union and the responsibilities of the European institutions, in knowing how to cope with crises. Everyone knows that the European Parliament on these issues as a European co-legislator will be as careful as it has been in the past, including in denouncing the laziness of the states in equipping the Union with new possibility.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, Allow me to conclude by thanking again for your attention, for your consideration so important. Thank you.