During the EP plenary session in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on Migration and refugees in Europe. Statements by Agustin DIAZ DE MERA GARCIA CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), Cecilia WIKSTROM (ALDE, SE), Marina ALBIOL GUZMAN (GUE/NGL, ES), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL),&nbsp; Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR),&nbsp; Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE) and Claude MORAES (S&amp;D, UK)

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA, Agustín (EPP, ES)

MORAES, Claude (S&D, UK)

PITTELLA, Gianni (S&D, IT)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

WIKSTRÖM, Cecilia (ALDE, SE)

VERGIAT, Marie-Christine (GUE/NGL, FR)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

SARGENTINI, Judith (Greens/EFA, NL)

ALBIOL GUZMÁN, Marina (GUE/NGL, ES)

Migration and refugees in Europe: MEPs debate

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Agust&#237;n D&#205;AZ DE MERA GARC&#205;A CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), We support the Commission's proposal. this is a proposal based on solidarity, it's a very decided and urgent proposal, because it is an urgent phenomenon. And it's a phenomenon that is going to be lasting overtime.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Agust&#237;n D&#205;AZ DE MERA GARC&#205;A CONSUEGRA (EPP, ES), <p>We have to clearly identify the phenomenon so that we can fight IS terrorism and fight the violence of the institutions as well. We have to try to tackle the problem iatits root, so that we can also respect our agreement of July 2015.</p>

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Giovanni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), <p>Stabilising the North of Africa is absolutely essential. We have got to ensure they stabilize Libya, we have to look at Syria. These are now failed states, where people are fleeing from. Where, in fact, we too would leave if we found ourselves in those countries. So, what we need to have is a across the board strategy that isn't based on demagoguery, but based on realism.Then we have to have it agreed.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia WIKSTR&#214;M (ALDE, SE), My heart fills with pride when I see citizens all across Europe taking to the streets to welcome refugees into their communities. They have shown much more of a backbone and humanity during the last week than most of our politicians have done over the last decade.

We must review the existing asylum legislation in Europe and adapt it to this century to provide for legal and safe routes to get here. We must agree to a system of binding quotas of refugees to be accepted by every member state and my group is , of course, all in favour of the proposals of the Commission. This is a defining moment for Europe. And our best days are yet to come.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Marina ALBIOL GUZM&#193;N (GUE/NGL, ES), This is the result of your wars, the result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, for having bombed Libya, for having collaborated through financing arms in Syria. So, when all these refugees are at the doors of Europe, what do you do? Do you try to make a humanitarian corridor available for them? A humanitarian channel for them to come in? Activate provisional protection regulation?

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Marina ALBIOL GUZM&#193;N (GUE/NGL, ES), When the cause is the war, the solution cannot be bombs.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), The proposals that you are putting forward are good and they are strong proposals. But the next step, as Mr. Juncker said, we have to look at proper work migration, and that cannot wait to long.

SOUNDBITE (French), Marie-Christine VERGIAT (GUE/NGL, FR), The growing opposition between real economic migrants will lead us straight to a brick wall. Legal ways for migrants need to be open. This is the best way to avoid deaths and human traffickers. These men, women and children, who have got rights and these rights have to be respected inside the EU and elsewhere.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), The people of Europe, they have shown us the way. They are the ones who deserve the Nobel peace prize that the EU has achieved. And I think that the governments of the EU member states should follow that way of the citizens. Our citizens are much further than we think they are. Let us promote their solidarity, their initiative. Let us follow their lead.

SOUNDBITE (English), Claude MORAES (S&amp;D, UK), What is the EU doing? And my answer to that is that the EU is the member states. And the member states, with a very urgent presidency is meeting on Monday. the parliament has done its work on relocation fast and efficiently. So, we have done our work. But what will happen on Monday? Will we see ties, will we see dilution, will we see blame game or will we see a reaction to the biggest refugees crisis since World War II? The EU is its member states and its people. Let's not fail the refugees of the people of the EU on the 14th of September.    