Brussels, 17/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 16 December in Strasbourg, MEPs adopted a resolution demanding a “global European approach to migration”, as well as more effort to prevent further deaths at sea, despite the fact that at least 3,072 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean during the course of the first nine months of 2014.
The European Parliament has called on the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) to assess the different policies in question, draw up a raft of recommendations and submit a “strategic initiative report” before the end of 2015.
The resolution demands that the European Union assumes its fair share of responsibility and demonstrate solidarity to member states receiving the largest numbers of refugees and asylum seekers in both “absolute and relative values”. Solidarity also involves making a “sufficient contribution” to the budgets and operations of the European Border Control Agency, Frontex, and the European Asylum Office, explain MEPs. They assert that search and rescue requirements should be fulfilled efficiently and, subsequently, sufficient funds should be allocated to it in the medium and long term. They also say that a “detailed analysis of how the funds for home affairs are allocated” should be carried out. The EU should also guarantee safe and legal access to the European asylum regime and explore other legal immigration solutions, affirms the text.
With regard to the question of illegal immigration, MEPs propose the swift processing of requests, in collaboration with third countries of origin and transit, as well as return, “for people unable to obtain asylum or protection in the Union” whilst ensuring that, “for people who need protection, resources will be used in an optimum way”. According to the resolution, voluntary return policies should be encouraged, whilst guaranteeing the protection of migrants' rights.
The resolution also looks at the cooperation strategy with third countries, human trafficking and the question of legal penalties.
In 2015, the European Commission is expected to present a European agenda on migration. The aim of this agenda is manifold but also includes the aim of developing a new approach to legal immigration in the EU. (SP)