”Renzi is right, this migration crisis needs a European response” - ”Cynical to see leaders haggling over the number of asylum seekers”

Europe is facing the most serious migration crisis since the end of the Second World War. Thousands of migrants continue to undertake the dangerous journey to Europe, while EU Member States seem set to reject minimal proposals by the European Commission to secure the resettlement of 40000 asylum seekers.

Italy, Spain and Greece have to deal with a massive influx of migrants. Prime Minister Renzi has called on his peers to change the rules of the Dublin system (which defines that people shall apply for asylum in the first Member State in which they arrive).

European Liberal and Democrats Group leader Guy Verhofstadt agrees with Renzi that this is a challenge for the whole of Europe and requires a European response:

”Renzi is right. The migration crisis is not just a challenge for the Italian government, we have to find a European solution. We talk about people’s lives, which makes it even more cynical to see how European leaders are haggling over the number of asylum seekers they can accommodate.”

”We cannot pretend this crisis will go away on its own. Member States speak of solidarity when they publicly mourn the people dying, but then behind closed doors they reject proposals by the European Commission which would put in place a fair system for the distribution of asylum seekers between the Member States.”

Cecilia Wikström, ALDE coordinator on the Civil Liberties Committee: ”The Commission has finally proposed an ambitious European agenda on migration with concrete proposals on relocation and resettlement. It is now key that those proposals will be mandatory to ensure participation from all member states. Therefore I regret that the Council failed in reaching a position during yesterday’s Council meeting. I still believe that the way forward is responsibility sharing between Member States.”

The Dublin regulation is only part of the challenge. In their blueprint on migration, the European Liberals and Democrats outline four policy actions that are necessary for a fair and sustainable European migration and asylum system:

1. Replacement of the Dublin system by a centralised European asylum system;
2. An overhaul of the blue card system;
3. Tenfold increase of Frontex to give it the capacity to become a real European agency with rescue competences and compulsory contributions from Member States;
4. The creation of safe havens in failed states.

You will find the ALDE strategy here.