During a debate with the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council, MEPs present their migration and asylum priorities. The focus of the debate is on the progress of the legislative proposals included in the Asylum and Migration Pact, as well as the recently proposed strategy to ease the return of migrants and asylum-seekers without the right to remain in the EU.

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

REINTKE, Terry (Greens/EFA, DE)

GARCÍA PÉREZ, Iratxe (S&D, ES)

AZMANI, Malik (Renew, NL)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

ROSWALL, Jessika (SE)

special meeting of the European Council 9-10 February 2023 (T)

Preparation of the Special European Council meeting of February, in particular the need to develop sustainable solutions in the area of asylum and migration: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Migration will be another major topic. Our first meeting leaders are expected to discuss ways in which the EU can intensify its joint actions, such as strengthening control of the EU's external borders, including through Frontex and support from Member States actions and the use of IT tools. Working with countries of origin and transit along all routes on on partnerships to avoid further deaths and counter illegal migration.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, - The most pressing issue right now are at land border between Bulgaria and Turkey. We can strengthen the border with management capabilities. We can also provide infrastructure and equipment like drones and radar and other means of surveillance, as we have done last year for example, in the last years, for example, in Romania, we've done it in Spain and Greece and in Poland, and we can increase the presence of Frontex.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, There are criminal networks. They are organising ruthlessly. The shabby life vests, the boats. They are robbing the migrants, their trading and human life. We have to intensify our fight against those smugglers and we will launch a new anti-smuggling partnership with key third countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, A return decision that is taken in one member state should be valid in all Member States. So if a person with a return decision by Italy is found in France, that person can be directly returned to his country of origin. This will become possible now with the Schengen Information System that enters into force, into operation in March.

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), We need legal routes into the EU. There's no doubt about that. If you look at Syria, if you go to the the camps, I think it's only correct that Canada is opening offices to relocate people. Well, why isn't Europe doing that? Why aren't we in Egypt and Tunisia with offices on the ground to try and offer people a legal route into Europe? Why don't we doing the same thing as Canada and our democratic government in Denmark made this proposal of doing this sort of thing outside Europe? We need to find a league all routes for migrants to enter Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Ladies and gentlemen, sharing responsibility is the only way to find solutions to these challenges that are affecting all of us. No country can solve these problems on their own. We can't be fortress Europe. We have to be a Europe of solidarity. That's the only way we can understand one another.

SOUNDBITE (English), Malik AZMANI (Renew, NL), Colleagues, it's time to wake up. This mismatch between what we need to do and what we see being achieved is dangerous. First, we need a real progress on the most solemn migration and also, in fact, responsibility. Solidarity must go hand in hand. And a third element to come to an agreement is missing, however, and that is trust. Trust between member States. And here lies also a role for the Commission. The Commission has to step up to break the cycle of mistrust existing between Member States by enforcing also rules.

SOUNDBITE (English), Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE), I've read the letter that the commission president sent to the member states on migration. And let me be honest, to me, it sounded in a very technocratic and depoliticised language. It sounded like a plan to create a fortress Europe. Not once there was a mention of human rights. Not once there was a mention of the suffering of those who are trying to find shelter in the European Union. And not once. There was a mention of international law, international law that bounced the European Union when it comes to asylum. But also in the framing, we are talking about migration here. Migration is not only about asylum and returns.