The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) votes on European Border and Coast Guard, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Claude MORAES opens the vote. Final vote on the text as amended. result: 35 votes in favour 9 against and 8 abstentions. Vote on the mandate for negotiations, approved by 42 votes, 6 against and 2 abstentions. Statement by Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), rapporteur

statement

Strasbourg

meeting

vote

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

MORAES, Claude (S&D, UK)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

European Border and Coast Guard: extracts from the vote and statement by Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), rapporteur

Atmosphere shots before the voting session. Close up on Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), rapporteur. 

LIBE Committee Chair Claude MORAES opens the vote on the report on a European Border and Coast Guard by Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT). Atmosphere shots from the vote.

Final vote on the text as amended. result: 35 votes in favour 9 against and 8 abstentions.

Vote on the mandate for negotiations, approved by 42 votes, 6 against and 2 abstentions. 

Congratulations to the rapporteur. End of the vote.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Rapporteur, <p>This was a big success at the Civil Liberties committee where the vast majority of members from most of the political groups sent a strong message that we wanted to strengthen the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. More persons at the border, increased representation in third countries, helping member states that have migration challenges with returns to their countries of origin. Therefore, a big success and I'm super glad that this Parliament actually sent a strong signal in this regard.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Rapporteur, The original proposal was to have 10000 additional border guards pledged in different categories by member states: for when you have sudden influxes at the border, for when you have a situational challenge at the border, but also for when the agency can rely on increased assistance when the need arises. And therefore this report delivered just that. And I think that, even though there was some scepticism as to whether we would manage, we managed with a strong result: 10000 additional persons granted to such an important agency. We also reached agreement on the powers of such Border guards in terms of what their operational mandate is, how the operation would govern what they do. We also inserted a number of very very strong fundamental right safeguards, in order to ensure that liability is clear and that the agency is equipped to deal with breaches of fundamental rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), Rapporteur, The European Council gave both the council and the Parliament a strong mandate last December. And we have delivered on that within this Parliament. We now expect and look forward to receiving the same from the Council.