Wikström (FP) in plenary: EU must create legal & safe routes for refugees

MEP Cecilia Wikström (ALDE/Folkpartiet) represented the liberal group in the plenary debate on the refugee situation in Europe.

My heart fills with pride when I see the scenes from all across Europe as ordinary citizens are taking to the streets to welcome refugees into their communities. These citizens have shown more backbone and humanity during the last week than most of our political leaders have done over the last decade! They show us what Europe and European values are all about, and what Europe can be when it is at its best.

People would not risk the lives of their children on the waves of the Mediterranean if they would not consider that the land they are standing on is even less safe than the boats of the smugglers. 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 requriement from the Commission and Parliament to realocate 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!