During the plenary session (17/05/2010 au 23/05/2010) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the European Refugee Fund and Schengen Information System

Strasbourg

plenary session

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

MALMSTRÖM, Cecilia (ALDE, SE, EC)

joint debate

PAPANIKOLAOU, Georgios (EPP, EL)

FLAUTRE, Hélène (Greens/EFA, FR)

PICKART ALVARO, Alexander Nuno (ALDE, DE)

MASIP HIDALGO, Antonio (S&D, ES)

HIRSCH, Nadja (ALDE, DE)

European Refugee Fund and Schengen Information System: extracts from the joint debate

SOUNDBITE (in Portuguese ) Alexander Alvaro (ALDE, DE): This system is not stable, and we have seen this repeated again in April and in March . We've seen that the requirements are not fully meet and se see that the response time has also not being compliant with.

SOUNDBITE (in English) Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, EU Commissioner: As regards the budgetary aspects, the Commission shares the rapporteurs aims to make the most efficient use of tax payers money . And in this context the report requests to reserve the parliament rights to put founds for SIS II development for 2011 in budgetary reserve this is of course entirely within the discussion with the budgetary authority;

SOUNDBITE (in English) Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, EU Commissioner: A large majority of refugees' world wide are hosted in regions like Asia, Africa and the Middle East. And many of these refugees find themselves in insolvable situations. They can not return in the country of origin, nor can they integrate locally in the country of 1st asylums since many of these countries are themselves victims of conflict or poverty. For theses groups of refugees' resettlement can be the only solution. And trough resettlement the Member States of the EU can demonstrate concrete solidarity with these often overburden countries, and at the same time give protection to some of the most vulnerable refugees on the sustainable and humane condition.

SOUNDBITE (in Greek) Georgios PAPANIKOLAOU (EPP, EL): Of course human rights and their protection and solidarity to third countries are automate objectives and 1sdt priorities, but we must be aware of the fact that an other reason why all member states should be part of this scheme is that trough this programme it is possible to give all those in need the message that they should choose legal means to reach Europe and Europe territory to improve their lot.

SOUNDBITE (in Spanish) Antonio MASIP HIDALGO (S&amp;D, ES): This collective amnesia has to be overcome . We need to make this commitment, yes we do, and we have visited Iraqis and Palestinians and we do have to make a commitment vis-&agrave;-vis those refugees. I'm very keen on - Mr President - on Mrs Malmstr&ouml;m and her work, but we also need to overcome the difficulties here in the Parliament. She has been member of the EP , now she is at the EC, and we need to work further on these delegated acts. There seems to be a criticisms and I will hope that we will not come to an impasse because we can not agree on delegated acts between the Commission and Parliament!

SOUNDBITE (in German) Nadja HIRSCH (ALDE, DE): I think it is important to explain what people we are talking about. These are peoples whom can't with out Europe, there are sick peoples, children, women, children whom are in refugees camps....I think is good that we should decide that in the future more founds should be made available for those refugees . At the same time it is important that when the money is passed on to member states it not simply disappeared in international budgets, but it is actually used to set up a sustainable structure. Indeed the money should be passed on to local authorities where resettlement actually takes place, where the nursery places have to be made available for children.

SOUNDBITE (in French) H&eacute;l&egrave;ne FLAUTRE (Greens/EFA, FR): We have had the experience in my country, France, of the reinstallation of a few refugees and this has been mediatised to such a degree as being a form of charity At the same time France has being condemned and criticised by UN Committee Against Torture by sending back to their countries some peoples whom were objects to torture in their countries ...