Strasbourg, 24/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Anne Brasseur voiced her concern on Friday 24 April at the lack of solidarity by Europeans towards migrants, particularly those who come to Europe fleeing the conflict in Syria.
Brasseur recalled the adoption of “a resolution which urges that much more be done” (see EUROPE 11301). She added: “Words alone are not enough: we need action. That is why the PACE Bureau has decided to set up a commission which will travel to Turkey to visit the refugee camp that has grown up in the province of Gaziantep. This delegation, which will comprise the leaders of each political group, the chair of the migrations committee and the heads of each of the national delegations, will also visit the towns in Turkey where the local population has been outnumbered by the refugee population”.
She expressed her dismay at the attitude displayed by Europeans. “Taking in all these people displaced from their homes is a huge burden and these towns are trying to find ways, yet, here in Europe, we have demonstrations as soon as any talk is heard of plans for a reception centre. I am ashamed.”
Commenting on the outcome of the extraordinary European summit that took place in Brussels on Thursday to try to find a solution to the tragedy of migrants in the Mediterranean (see EUROPE 11301), Brasseur said that they were “insufficient”. “Our parliamentarians must urge their respective governments to do much more”, she added, pointing out that it was a “matter of fundamental rights”. (Véronique Leblanc)