Valletta: Europe must get its own house in order before lecturing others - ALDE welcomes decision to hold EU-Turkey summit-

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament regrets Member States have once again missed an opportunity to provide realistic solutions to the migration and refugee crisis. ALDE calls on the Member States to provide as soon as possible substantial alternatives for regular access to the EU and focus on policies that could foster development, growth and give migrants a perspective of a future in their countries and in the EU.

Guy Verhofstadt, ALDE Group leader, said: ”Once again, EU leaders have let us down. The conclusions of this summit are nothing but a re-cycling of measures that have been on the table for some time. I fear there is now nothing that can be done to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe over the winter months.”

”As long as EU leaders continue to focus on measures to return migrants and outsourcing our problems to Turkey and Africa, progress will be minimal. Bargaining with non-EU countries in the hope that we can trade EU funds in return for re-admission mechanisms is not the right approach. Only when Member States have implemented the measures proposed by the European Commission should we co-operate with other countries such as Turkey.”

”Europe needs to get its own house in order, before lecturing other countries about how to manage migration. The pitiful reality is EU nations have only managed to relocate 147 refugees, out of an agreed 160,000.”

Cecilia Wikström, ALDE spokesperson for migration, added: ”Increased cooperation between Europe and our partners in Africa and the rest of our neighbourhood is always a good thing. Unfortunately the Valetta summit is yet another example of European leaders doing too little, too late.
What we need to resolve the current situation is firm action on creating security and prospects for development on the ground in neighbouring countries as well as a complete overhaul of European asylum policy ”