Refugee crisis

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution on the refugee crisis with a large majority. Commenting after the vote, Green asylum and migration spokesperson Judith Sargentini said:

"The European Parliament has delivered a strong signal in support of binding EU measures in response to the refugee emergency. EU home affairs ministers must follow this lead on Monday and finally endorse a binding scheme for the redistribution of refugees. It is the EU's management crisis and disunity, which have led to the dramatic situation in Hungary, Greece, Italy and beyond.

"MEPs today again supported the creation of a permanent binding scheme for distributing asylum seekers across the EU. The dysfunctional Dublin system needs to be overhauled to this end. MEPs also voted to ensure the needs of refugees - like language competence and family connections - are taken into account. Importantly, the European Parliament has underlined the need to finally create a system for legal migration to Europe, as this is the most effective way to end the dangerous criminal business of human smugglers. We now hope EU governments will finally stop squabbling and take the necessary steps to address this crisis.

"Unfortunately, centre-right MEPs blocked the inclusion of a call for asylum seekers to be given the right to work. This crucial point, which Commission president Juncker himself made yesterday, is the best way to ensure integration and guarantee their wellbeing. It is regrettable that centre-right MEPs failed to follow the lead of their political family member Juncker."