Migration: Parliament calls for urgent measures to save lives

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 29.04.15
Publication Date 29/04/2015
Content Type

A resolution approved by the European Parliament on 29 April 2015 states that the European Union should do everything possible to prevent further loss of life at sea, e.g. by expanding the mandate of 'Triton' operation in the Mediterranean to include 'search and rescue operations at EU level'.

Members of this chamber also called for a binding quota for distributing asylum seekers among all EU countries, bigger contributions to resettlement programmes, better cooperation with third countries and tougher measures against people smugglers.

The resolution was set up as a result of tragic events which took place in the Mediterranean Sea earlier in the month and following the conclusions of an Extraordinary European Council on 23 April 2015.

News sources reported however on the challenges the EU had in securing meaningful changes to existing policies on migration issues with some Member States not supportive of such changes.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker criticised the reaction of the EU heads of state and government to the refugee tragedies in the Mediterranean. Addressing the European Parliament on the 29 April 2015, he called for refugees to be given legal access to Europe and the introduction of country quotas.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150424IPR45723/
Related Links
BBC News, 29.04.15: Migrant crisis: European Parliament calls for bolder action http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32516497
ESO: Background information: Extraordinary European Council, Brussels, 23 April 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/extraordinary-european-council-brussels-23-april-2015/
EurActiv, 29.04.15: MEPs call on member states to share asylum seeker burden http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/meps-call-member-states-share-asylum-seeker-burden-314191
Deutsche Welle, 29.04.15: EU Parliament and refugees: put away the violins http://dw.de/p/1FHob
EUObserver, 29.04.15: EU anti-trafficker plans beset with difficulties https://euobserver.com/foreign/128519
European Council: STATEMENT/15/237, 29.04.15: Report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on the special European Council on migration http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/04/29-report-tusk-european-parliament/
EUObserver, 29.04.15: Juncker annoys centre-right on migration https://euobserver.com/justice/128516
Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 30.04.15: Juncker criticises Fortress Europe http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER162416-Juncker-criticises-Fortress-Europe
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

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