MEPs lay out their priorities for upcoming #EuropeanSummit

Migration, Brexit and defence topped MEPs’ priorities for the June European summit, in a debate with the Maltese Presidency and Commission President Juncker.

MEPs strongly criticised the lack of progress in Council on the Dublin reform, calling the lack of solidarity among member states “disappointing” and “shameful”. Many also stressed the need to secure and control the external borders and noted the progress achieved on this. The issue of further agreements with countries outside the EU, such as Libya, divided the House. Some MEPs strongly opposed cooperation with what they described as a failed state, while others called for an EU-Libya agreement to end the loss of life in the Mediterranean.

As expected, many of the group leaders addressed the situation of Brexit as a result of last week's general election in the UK.  Some leaders said that the election had clearly indicated that 'hard' Brexit was now off the table, while others expressed their frustration at the lack of progress in negotiations and the increased uncertainty of how Brexit would pan out.  A call was also made to ensure that Brexit did not overshadow all the essential work which needs to move forward in other policy areas.

Finally, some leaders also touched upon the EU's reinvigorated push for defence cooperation.

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Opening President Tajani and Maltese Presidency 

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the Commission 

Manfred Weber (EPP, DE) 

Gianni Pittella (S&D, IT) 

Syed Kamall (ECR, UK) 

Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, BE) 

Gabriele Zimmer (GUE/NGL, DE) 

Ska Keller (Green/EFA, DE) 

Nigel Farage (EFDD, UK) 

Marcel De Graaff (ENF, NL) 

Helena Dalli, for the Council 

Speakers (original version)

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