MEPs demand an end to #Migrant deaths across #MediterraneanSea

In a debate with European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans and Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Monika Panayotova, (pictured) on Tuesday morning (12 June), MEPs laid out their priorities for the next crucial EU summit in Brussels on 28-29 June.

Some of the political groups urged EU leaders at the summit to put an end to formal discussions on migration and start working towards an agreement on the so-called “Dublin system”. They referred to the new Italian government’s recent decision to refuse a boat carrying migrants, the MS Aquarius, to dock in the country over the weekend as a “disgrace” and “a scandal”.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani also called on EU leaders at the summit to press ahead with overhauling the Dublin rules, whilst pointing out that the European Parliament has adopted a clear position on the matter, based on solidarity.

Some groups further stressed the need to build new European reception centres to assist migrants arriving in transit countries. Others highlighted that a solution to solve the migration crises, based on quotas and mandatory reallocation of refugees, simply cannot work, as demonstrated so far, and that other options need to be put on the table.

MEPs also discussed US trade barriers and reforming the eurozone, calling on the European Council to take further action with revamping the EMU.

Live replays

Statement by Monika PANAYOTOVA, Bulgarian Presidency and Frans TIMMERMANS, European Commission First Vice President

Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE)

Udo BULLMANN (S&D, DE)

Roberts ZILE (ECR, LV)

Guy VERHOFSTADT (ALDE, BE)

Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE)

Gabriele ZIMMER (GUE/NGL, DE)

Gerard BATTEN (EFDD, UK)

Nicolas BAY (ENF, FR)