Press Release: Migration: Parliament calls for urgent measures to save lives

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.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Extraordinary European Council, Brussels, 23 April 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/extraordinary-european-council-brussels-23-april-2015/

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