Press release
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EU summit/refugee crisis
Small pieces of the puzzle agreed for EU asylum policy but comprehensive solution must follow
Commenting on the outcome of the EU summit on the refugee crisis, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms said:
"EU governments are slowly moving towards a more common response to the refugee crisis. Following Tuesday's agreement on the emergency relocation system for refugees, last night's agreement on the urgently-needed funding for the UN's refugee response is to be welcomed. However, these are only small pieces of the puzzle for properly responding to the current crisis. It is now important that EU governments improve cooperation, with a view to agreeing a more comprehensive solution next month. With core elements of the Union like free movement having been placed under severe strain by this crisis, a comprehensive solution is of vital importance to the EU."
Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts said:
"Europe needs an asylum system that is fit for the task and this means repealing the Dublin system. At its heart, this implies the creation of a permanent binding scheme for distributing asylum seekers across the EU and a legal entry scheme for refugees. This system must take the needs of refugees - like language competence and family connections - into account. There is also a need to urgently address the appalling conditions under which many asylum seekers in the EU's border countries are being kept and to create a proper EU search and rescue system. Greater EU support for these member states to cope with the refugees arriving at their borders is clearly necessary. All these measures require solidarity, which has been sadly lacking in this crisis. We would now urge all governments to work to ensure a comprehensive package can finally be agreed in October."
