On 15 May 2019, the lead candidates for the presidency of the European Commission take part in a live Eurovision debate at the Parliament in Brussels. Frans TIMMERMANS, lead candidate of the Party of European Socialists (PES), Manfred WEBER, lead candidate of the European People’s Party (EPP), Ska KELLER, lead candidate of the European Greens (Greens), Nico CUÉ, lead candidate of the European Left (EL), Margrethe VESTAGER, lead candidate of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) as member of Team Europe, and Jan ZAHRADIL, lead candidate of the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) debate migration.

Brussels

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

asylum procedures in the EU (T)

VESTAGER, Margrethe (DK, CE)

ZAHRADIL, Jan (ECR, CZ)

Eurovision debate between candidates for the Presidency of the European Commission (T)

2019 European elections (T)

CUÉ, Nico (BE)

Presidency of the European Commission / Eurovision Debate - Topic 1: Migration

SOUNDBITE (English), Jan ZAHRADIL, ACRE lead candidate, talking about not introducing mandatory quota, which protect the sovereign rights to grant or not to grant asylum or citizenship. Need to fight human trafficking and externalising reception centres outside of Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER, EPP lead candidate, talking about a Marshall Plan for Africa and introducing a Commissioner for Migration. Need to bring back control.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nico CU&#201;, EL lead candidate, talking about how European Union needs to take responsibility when it comes to migration and that i should be perceived as an opportunity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, ALDE lead candidate as member of Team Europe, talking about the need of a common Asylum system and common solidarity in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, PES lead candidate, talking about the need for rescue missions on the Mediterranean sea and the need to stop people fro getting on boats and thus the need to have a development plan for Africa. The need for solidarity among Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER, Greens lead candidate, talking about the need to establish European search and rescue mission to stop the drowning of migrants at sea.