#Refugees: Draft European Council Conclusions too vague according to Verhofstadt

"Instead of outsourcing our problems to third countries, we need a comprehensive European approach", Guy Verhofstadt said.

Reacting on the draft Council Conclusions of Thursday’s European summit, which are again extremely vague on how the leaders want to solve the refugee crisis, ALDE Leader Guy Verhofstadt calls on government leaders to agree on some clear deadlines to make progress.

Guy Verhofstadt: “If we want to solve this crisis, we have to show the political will to implement a European solution. However, the draft Council Conclusions are again extremely vague and lack political commitments. It is time that the leaders agree on concrete deadlines, otherwise nothing will happen and we will keep on having to rely on third countries to sort out our mess. It is time Europe takes responsibility for its own problems, instead of constantly trying to outsource this crisis to third countries."

"There is an alternative to outsourcing; the creation of a European Border and Coast Guard, we should be the absolute priority. Instead of waiting months for this to happen, we could trigger emergency measures under article 78,3 of the European Treaty, which would allow the EU to quickly take control of managing the border between Turkey and Greece."

Guy Verhofstadt also calls on the Council to fast track the Commission proposals on a European asylum-and immigration package: "We have to make sure that we are not dependent on third countries, many of whom have questionable human rights  track records. The only way we can manage this crisis is by implementing a wholesale review of European asylum-and migration policy. The Commission has put the proposals on the table, now the political leaders should show the political will to make them a reality."

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