MEP Roberta Metsola demands commitments on migration from new EU Commission – “Not enough has been done”.
Member of the European Parliament for Malta Roberta Metsola has asked European Commissioner-Designate for Migration & Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos whether the EU Commission is willing to discuss and promote a fair system of distribution and a better mechanism for the fairer sharing of responsibility among Member States.
Dr Metsola – who is a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and the EPP’s vice-coordinator in the Committee – was the first MEP to take the floor and question the Greek Commissioner-Designate during his hearing before the Parliament this afternoon.
Addressing the Commissioner-Designate, Dr Metsola said, “Irregular immigration and asylum are European issues that by their very nature require a European response. Citizens have criticised the lack of solidarity between Member States, notwithstanding the pressure placed by the European Parliament.”
Highlighting the success of Italy’s Mare Nostrum operation, Dr Metsola said that the success of the new Frontex operation, Triton, depends on the resources that Member States allocate to it. “In light of this, what are you going to do to guarantee the proper surveillance of the Mediterranean and help save thousands of lives at sea?” Dr Metsola asked the Commissioner-Designate.
She also asked for a concrete commitment to tackle the criminal networks of traffickers that prey on the most vulnerable.
In his reply, Mr Avramopoulos said Frontex is doing a very good job, as is the Mare Nostrum programme. “I don’t know what will happen in the future, but Triton will further help Frontex in its work and we will work to help them. It is also true, as you said, that we do not have enough financing, but we have €90 million that have been accepted and there will be another €20 million, but yes of course, we will demand more monies and we will help and reinforce Frontex and international cooperation in the area.”
On asylum, Dr Metsola asked the Commissioner-Designate for his views on a potential review of the Dublin Regulation and on the Commission’s willingness to discuss and promote systems that would ensure a fairer sharing of responsibility among Member States.
“Would you agree that not enough has been done, and that there is disproportionate pressure being placed on Member States like Malta, Italy, Greece, Spain and others?” asked the Maltese MEP.
Mr Avramopoulos said the countries that face the most pressure must be helped and the EU should show more solidarity towards these countries. To do this, stated the Commissioner-Designate, “we need a very good study, very good preparation and very good cooperation among us all. And I have to repeat that, many times, I will need your help; a Commissioner by himself can do quite a few things – he can propose and undertake initiatives, but we (the EU Commission) will need the help of your committee to help all those tools and improve them where they need improvement – either Dublin or Frontex. We will try and find new ways of making use of these mechanisms.”
Replying to Dr Metsola’s question on the Dublin Regulation, the Commissioner-Designate gave his commitment to review aspects of this regulation; in fact, he said he will be asking his services to draft a study to see what changes are necessary.
The hearing is currently underway.
