Press release: 0,03
“Yes, of course the EU should give shelter to 160000 refugees. We don`t talk about numbers, but about people. But if you insist, they represent only 0,03 percent of Europe’s population!” Guy Verhofstadt, Group leader of the European Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament.
Liberals and Democrats in the EP support the European Commission’s proposal for a compulsory relocation of 160,000 refugees. Moreover, the Group calls on the Commission to come forward with a radical overhaul of the current migration/asylum policy, based on four pillars:
1) Take away the need for refugees to pay human smugglers to undertake the dangerous journey to Europe by creating safe havens in and around conflict areas in combination with safe and legal routes into the EU. Refugees should have the possibility to apply for humanitarian visas in these facilities. Europe should invest in protection, decent conditions and education in these centres;
2) Save the Schengen-area by strengthening the external borders of the European Union by massively upgrading Frontex;
3) A permanent responsibility sharing mechanism in which every country in the European Union hosts a fair share of refugees;
4) A European blue card to accommodate people who would like to come to Europe to find a job. They should be able to apply for a blue card like in Canada, the US and Australia.
Speaking at the State of the Union debate, ALDE Group leader Guy Verhofstadt said: “We all know why this crisis has become a tragedy. The lack of political will, the lack of unity between our member states”
“The European Commission has today been very clear: we need to relocate 160,000 refugees and the system must be mandatory”.
“We have to recognise that some countries, like Germany, have taken responsibility. In Munich, they accepted 20.000 refugees in five days, the same amount as the UK will accept over 5 years.”
“The proposal of the European Commission to share responsibility is the way forward”
“It’s now up to the Council to back these important proposals on Monday”.
Cecilia Wikström, ALDE spokesperson for migration, added: “I pray that the EU-leaders may finally have woken up to the challenges ahead of us and that the European Council will take action and agree on the requirement from the Commission to relocate at least 160 000 refugees.
“After a week of mourning the dead of all those young and old seeking refuge on this continent we must now ensure that the coming weeks are weeks of political action”.
“We owe it to the dead and we owe it to citizens of the EU. This is a moment of truth: it is high time to take action.”
