#Refugees: MEPs propose a new asylum system and a new approach on the issue

The European Parliament today overwhelmingly approved a Report co-authored by EPP Group MEP Roberta Metsola and S&D MEP Cécile Kyenge on an all-encompassing, holistic approach to migration. Significantly for frontline Member States, the Report calls for the 'country of first entry' principle to no longer be applied.

Addressing the plenary session in Strasbourg this morning, the European Parliament's Co-Rapporteur said that Europe needs to shift its thinking on migration: "No more emergency solutions to emergency situations. There is no quick fix to migration; there is no magical silver bullet."

Metsola said the departing point of the Report is that solidarity must be the principle upon which any action on migration is based: "We draw differences between those in need of protection and those who come to Europe for work because we understand that while people fleeing war and persecution have a right to protection, it is true that this does not equate to an inalienable right to migration. So we highlight that when it comes to labour migration for example, it must be the Member States who have control over their labour markets and that they and the Union must see how best to fill any possible gaps in the market", she underlined.

The Maltese MEP added: "Of course, not everyone in Europe is eligible for protection and the return of those who are not eligible must be carried out. Only 36% of those who were ordered to leave the Union were actually returned in 2014, so there is a clear need to improve the effectiveness of this system."

The co-author Cécile Kyenge added: "The refugee crisis has shown that the current EU approach to migration is not sustainable. We need to have a complete overhaul to create a system that is fit for the 21st Century. This report outlines the European Parliament's vision of what that is. Over the last few years thousands of people have drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe's shores. These deaths are a stain on our conscience. We are calling for permanent, robust and effective search and rescue operations at sea to prevent more meaningless loss of life."

"This immediate response must be combined with a wider overhaul of managing asylum applications in the EU. This means replacing the Dublin system - under which refugees must apply for asylum in the first EU country they reach - with a centralised European system that allocates refugees in a fair and transparent way. A similar approach must also be taken with refugees already in Europe, with a compulsory relocation system, which allocates refugees between different member states, so that the responsibility is shared in a fair manner. This will be supported by ensuring the mutual recognition of positive asylum decisions by all member states."

On security, Metsola said: “We cannot bury our heads in the sand. Security fears exist among our citizens and Member States must fulfil their obligations at the external borders if these fears are to be in any way allayed. The abolition of internal border controls in Schengen has to go hand-in-hand with strengthening external borders.”

S&D Group spokesperson for civil liberties, justice and home affairs, Birgit Sippel, also spoke about security. She said: "Too much of the focus in recent months has been on the security elements and too little on tackling the root causes that are causing mass migration in the first place. We cannot accept that funding promised for development aid or to support third countries is now being diverted to beef up border security. This is a short-term approach which is just building up bigger problems for the future."

The Report calls for a new approach to integration with the European Parliament calling for a two-way process. Metsola stressed: "While yes, everyone’s rights must be protected and while yes, we must do more to keep families together, it is also fair to expect people to respect the values upon which our Union is founded.”

The European Parliament also calls for Europe to help build capacity in third countries which can eventually allow people to seek protection, also in safe countries outside the EU.

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