MEPs debate the Commission and the Council on the proposal to adapt EU asylum rules in Poland, Latvia and Lithuania to deal with migrants coming from Belarus.

The proposed Council decision on provisional emergency measures for the external border with Belarus: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), An&#382;e LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, We are facing a cruel form of hybrid threat, instrumentalisation of people for political ends sponsored by an authoritarian regime. Such abhorrent practises run counter to EU and universal values.

SOUNDBITE (English), An&#382;e LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs , The council will further amend its sanctions regime as appropriate and will respond strongly to this hybrid attack.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, We acknowledge the work done by the commission in drafting a proposal for council decision on provisional emergency measure for Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

SOUNDBITE (English), Anže LOGAR, Slovenian Minister for Foreign Affairs, it is important to stress that joint work on the reform of the common European asylum system also needs to continue in parallel,. Because only a reformed system will help us to better to be better prepared for future attempts at destabilising. European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of promoting our European Way of Life, We are providing immediate support to the most affected member states, providing also support for the civil protection mechanism, deploying our agencies and mobilising additional funds. And as part of this response, following the request of the European Council to proceed with necessary changes to the EU legal framework, we are proposing under Article 78 point three of the treaty and latest tool for from our toolbox of measures to the instrumentalise of people by Belarus.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of promoting our European Way of Life, The first leg of the proposals gives our three member states a proper legal framework for dealing with the asylum and return processes of the border, accompanied by necessary safeguards to respect fundamental rights. I want here to stress in the clearest terms that under no circumstances and in no way were derogating from the right to asylum.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of promoting our European Way of Life, Yesterday, we presented to the commission the revision of the Schengen borders code and the proposal for a regulation on addressing instrumentalisation in the field of migration and asylum. Our objective is to ensure a stable framework that preserves the right to asylum and ensures the necessary safeguards, as well as the necessary flexibility to support a member state facing such a situation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL) So, yes, yes, let's use the Article 78, paragraph three of the treaty. Let's use this article that was put in the treaty for this very specific purpose. It is there to allow us to help member states when they need help. And if the project of Europe is about one thing, it's about helping each other when it is needed.

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&amp;D, DE) Article 78.3, as the Vice-President said it is not against Belarus. The measure isn't against Belarus and member states affected don't actually get any help. The proposals are one thing. They're against people who need help, who are being used arbitrarily, who might be incarcerated, who after 16 weeks are going to be expelled to decrease numbers of asylum seekers on the border with Belarus. There's no need for such emergency.

SOUNDBITE (French), Fabienne KELLER, (Renew Europe, FR)  People who are blocked between two borders, for example, at the border between Poland and Belarus dying of cold today need to be welcomed in a dignified manner and compliance with the directive protecting the vulnerable minors. And the commission needs to go out on site to check what's happening to ensure that individual rights are respected.

SOUNDBITE (English),Tineke STRIK (Greens/ALE, NL)This summer, the Polish and Lithuanian government changed their laws to allow border guards to push back people. The commission stayed completely silent on the structural violation of the right to apply for asylum. And instead of forcing the countries to reverse their legislation, the commission is now proposing to legalise these pushbacks and also the need to derogate from very vital standards in the asylum procedure

The proposed Council decision on provisional emergency measures for the external border with Belarus: extracts from the debate

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