MEPs reactions on the recent events in the Mediterranean Sea in the EP in Brussels. Statements by Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), Cornelia ERNST (GUE/NGL, DE), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Co-rapporteur, Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT) and Jean ARTHUIS (ALDE, FR)

Brussels

statement

SARGENTINI, Judith (Greens/EFA, NL)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

death of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea (T)

ARTHUIS, Jean (ALDE, FR)

ERNST, Cornelia (The Left, DE)

MEPs reactions on the recent events in the Mediterranean Sea: statements

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/11939684/I101869Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), "Let's start rescuing people right now, we turn back to Mare Nostrum but then with the buy-in of all 28 Member States. As soon as we've done that, let's continue to talk about legal pathways into the EU, both for asylum seekers and for labour migrants. Because you will never win it from the smugglers if you do not provide people with a a safe a legal way into the EU."

SOUNDBITE (English), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), "Italy is right that it is unfair, the Members States don't want to take an equal share. As a response, Italy is now not taking fingerprints of refugees, allowing them to move onwards to other European states. I guess if we don't want to organise it officially, Italy will give them an inofficial chance to solidarity."

SOUNDBITE (English), Cornelia ERNST (GUE/NGL, DE), "We need a stop of Dublin 3. We need a new system and we should speak open about that. But the first step is to save the people in the Mediterranean sea, that means Mare Nostrum for Europe and then legal steps and legal ways to Europe for the refugees. Abolish of Dublin 3 and looking for a new distribution."

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Co-rapporteur on situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic approach to migration, "What we expect short-term, we expect all assets, as much a possible to be placed in the Mediterranean. We have managed to eradicate piracy off the coast of Somalia, with funds, with the political will that has been committed byt the EU, why don't we do the same in the Mediterranean where the crisis is on our hands? And there has already been an operation on the way which we see has failed to abide by its expectations.  More mid-term, let's look at stability in Libya, we need to support and push for the negotiations bot from a political and diplomatic level within the auspices of the UN where the EU is an leading moderator."

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), "More long-term, we need to see what we can do to ensure that the development aid that we agree in this house, and with the Council, actually goes towards enpowering the African countries. For persons to stop fleeing war, fleeing violence and persecution. People are desperate, we need to gve them solutions, we need to help them."

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean ARTHUIS (ALDE, FR), Chair Budget Committee, "Dear colleagues, the session is open. But before turning to today's agenda, everybody here is concious that a new drama took place yesterday in the Mediterranean, off the coast of Libya. Doubtless, 700 new victims, on their way to Europe in order to flee misery and war. To bear witness of our compassion to these victims and their families, and these peoples, I propose a minute of silence." Statement is followed by pan of silent Members.