MEP Wikström at Bratislava Summit: High time for European system for asylum seekers in the EU
MEP Cecilia Wikström (Sweden/Liberals) attends the Bratislava Summit Thursday representing the European Parliament. Wikström is currently leading the revision of the Dublin regulation,that the European Commission presented in May this year.
- Last year 1,5 million refugees reached Europe to apply for asylum. It might sound a lot, but actually it’s only 0,3 percent of the European population, and in more normal times the numbers are of course much smaller. If all member states took their share of the responsibility, it would be possible to give each person a legally correct asylum procedure, safety and new opportunities in life.
- Europe needs an automatic distribution system of all asylum seekers because it would be deeply unfair to ask only a few countries in Europe to shoulder this responsibility. At the same time we have to respect and understand the concerns in Member States that do not have the same experience of receiving asylum seekers. The cooperation in the EU should be about finding common solutions in constructive dialogue, where every member state agrees to take its fair part of the responsibility.
- Europe’s future is now at stake. The confidence in the EU, our common peace and freedom project, must be restored. If given the proper tools the European Union can be part of the answer to many of the challenges that we are facing. The European Parliament now needs to work hand in hand with the governments of European Member States to live up to the demands of our citizens to create a union that delivers actual solutions for our common challenges.
For more information or separate interviews with MEP Wikström, please contact:
Linda Aziz, Press Officer of MEP Wikström
+32 486 94 76 82
