MEPs present their migration and asylum priorities ahead of the 9th-10th February special European Council. The focus of this debate is on the progress of the legislative proposals included in the Asylum and Migration Pact, as well as the recently proposed strategy to ease the return of migrants asylum-seekers without the right to remain in the EU. Opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

statement

debate

plenary session

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

VON DER LEYEN, Ursula (DE, EC)

new pact on asylum and migration (T)

ROSWALL, Jessika (SE)

special meeting of the European Council 9-10 February 2023 (T)

Preparation of the Special European Council meeting of February: opening statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Thank you, Madam Chair. Honourable Members. Madam President. All the Commission, Commissioners. On February 9th, leaders will convene for a special meeting in the European Council focusing on Ukraine, the economic agenda and migration. The meeting will start with the usual exchanges with the President of the European Parliament. Leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine assembling less than a week after the EU Ukraine summit on February 3rd.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, They will discuss the latest developments on the ground and take stock of the EU support to Ukraine and its people. Leaders are also expected to consider further ways to increase pressure on Russia and to touch upon the important issues of our accountability and upon frozen assets. The 24th of February, two weeks after the special European Council will mark the tragic anniversary of the start of the start of the Russian war. The European Council is expected to reaffirm the EU's resolute determination to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes. I know the Parliament is steadfast in its support to Ukraine, and I would like to thank you all for this.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Regarding the economic agenda, leaders will discuss how you can tackle challenges facing Europe's economic, industrial and technological base in the short term. In doing so, they will build on today's contribution by the Commission on a Green Deal Industrial Plan. Among other things, leaders are expected to discuss possible temporary adjustments on state aid policy and how to streamline procedures while preserving the integrity of the single market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, By the time of the meeting, we will probably have a deeper understanding of the challenges for the European industry. As the Commission is expected to prepare an analysis, but it is necessary to look at other policy tools too. Much can be achieved by improving the business environment and by cutting red tape. We also need a fully developed and integrated European capital market and an ambitious, robust and sustainable trade agenda.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, In the long term, it is crucial for the EU to realise the full potential of the single market as it celebrates 30 years. At the March's European Council leaders will discuss competitiveness and increase productivity in the longer term. This is essential for the EU to remain an attractive place to invest for our prosperity and for the role our role on the world stage. Migration will be another major topic at this meeting.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, Leaders are expected to discuss ways in which the EU can intensify its joint actions, such as strengthening control of the EU's external borders, including through Frontex and support from Member States actions and the use of IT tools. Working with countries of origin and transit along all routes on on partnerships to avoid further deaths and counter illegal migration. And also issues of return and readmission, alignment with the EU visa policy and the fight against trafficking and smuggling.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs, As well as the unacceptable use of migration for political purposes. Finally calling up the co-legislators to continue work on the migration pact as foreseen in the Joint Roadmap on Migration and Asylum. Thank you very much for your attention. I am looking forward to hearing your views.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Thank you very much. Madam President, dear Roberta. Madam Minister. Honourable Members. Last year, Frontex reported that 330,000 irregular border crossings. This is a 64% increase compared to the year before and the highest figure since 2016. In parallel, there were 924,000 asylum applications across the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, There are without any doubt increasing pressures at our external borders, and it is our duty to make sure that Europe continues to be a space for protection for those who need it. However, the asylum or reception system across member states are under considerable strain, and fact is that the majority of those who apply for asylum are not in need for protection. But return rates are at a low of 22% and there is an increasing number of secondary movement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Honourable Members, migration is a European challenge which must be met with a European response. This might sound like common sense, but it took us almost ten years to acknowledge this reality. At the European Council next week, I will propose to the Heads of State and Government two separate work strands. The legislative process is one, and the operational actions we can take already now is the second.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, On the legislative process the best response we can give to is to advance the new pact on migration and asylum. Since the Commission presented its proposals, we've seen quite some good progress. We have agreed on the EU blue card to attract highly skilled personnel. We have established a new EU asylum agency.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, In December, a political agreement was reached on three important legislative proposals. Trilogues started to upgrade our biometric database, the Eurodac. And we hope for trilogues to start soon on screening. So we must keep up the good pace. And here the role of this House is key. I am glad that on your initiative, Madam President, dear Roberta, Parliament and Council agreed on a road map, to conclude all the legislative work before March next year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And you can count on the full support of the Commission to achieve that. I know that Vice-President Margaritis Schinas and Commissioner Ylva Johansson are working tirelessly on that. The second work strand is immediate action. This is what the European Council

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Over time, we have developed a migration and border management toolbox. We have stronger agencies and we are better coordinated. We have proven to be able to respond to sudden demands if we work together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Take the instrumentalization of migrants by Belarus. All the sudden rise of irregular migration in the Western Balkans, or our response to Russia's brutal aggression against Ukraine. A whole continent has mobilised for our Ukrainian friends. Volunteers rushed to the borders, families opened their homes, and not only their homes, but also their hearts. And at the institutional level, we immediately activated temporary protection for Ukrainians.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We know that we can address increasing challenges if we take action together and now we can do this again. Here I want to outline four points of action where we can make a real difference on the ground. The first is, we have a shared interest in strong external borders. The most pressing issue right now, are at the land border between Bulgaria and Turkey. We can strengthen the border with management capabilities. We can also provide infrastructure and equipment like drones and radar and other means of surveillance.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, we have done As in the last years, for example, in Romania, we've done it in Spain and Greece and in Poland. We can increase the presence of Frontex. On the other hand, we must urgently address the situation in the central Mediterranean. The migratory pressure has increased significantly and all too often tragically at the expense of human life. We need to support our Member States as well as our North African partners in coordinating their search and rescue capacities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, And we will continue supporting UNHCR and IOM on the ground to help build capacities for asylum reception and return. At the same time, we will continue supporting Member States to address challenges along the Western and Eastern Mediterranean routes. Honourable Members behind all this, they are criminal networks. They are organising ruthlessly, the shabby life vests, the boats. They are robbing the migrants, their trading and human life.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, We have to intensify our fight against those smugglers and we will launch a new anti-smuggling partnership with key third countries. These will bring together prosecutors and law enforcement authorities, supported by Europol and supported by Eurojust. Together, we have to stop this business of exploitation. My second point is focusing on faster and dignified returns. Every year there are around 300,000 thousand return decisions taken by Member States, but only around 70,000 people are actually returned. We have to get better.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Some of the shortcomings we can act on now, for instance, a return decision that is taken in one Member State should be valid in all Member States. So if a person with a return decision by Italy is found in France, that person can be directly returned to his country of origin. This will become possible now with the Schengen Information System that enters into force, into operation in March. And we want Member States to make use of this possibility.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Thirdly, we have to address secondary movements while ensuring effective solidarity. Solidarity and responsibility are two sides of the same coin, and therefore these two issues can only be addressed together. Let me give you some figures and some elements that are important for us. We must work together to reduce the incentives for secondary movements. It is very good that we have the Dublin Road map now since December in place.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, But Member States, of course, need to implement now. And at the same time, if we look at the voluntary solidarity mechanism agreed last summer, this should not only be on paper, it needs to deliver. Until today, there are only 8000 pledges for relocation and just round about 400 have actually been transferred. So European solidarity must and can be stronger than that. And we will need to see to this with a permanent solidarity mechanism in the new pact on migration and asylum.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, Last but definitely not least, there is the external dimension. We need to engage more closely with key partners. Migration management must be built in as one important aspect of the European Union's relations with partners. Overall, our relations need to reflect a strategic engagement in a spirit of cooperation. We should recognise the interests of our partners and cooperate with them by supporting education, by creating new businesses, business opportunities, by fostering job creation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, That same spirit of cooperation should help us to reduce irregular departures and step up returns. Talent Partnerships, visa Policy, trade and investment play an important role here. As well as opportunities for safe and legal pathways as part of our overall comprehensive approach to migration management. It is a fair balance that we need to find. Honourable Members, migration is very complex. It's a matter of understanding each other's challenges and a matter of working together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ursula VON DER LEYEN, President of the EC, This is what we will present to the European Council on the 9th of February. On a completely different sheet of paper, let me ask you for your kind understanding that I have to leave the plenary right now because I am together with the College of Commissioner now on my way on a mission to Ukraine, where we want to go together as a college of commissioner. Thank you very much.