The European Commission and MEPs renewed their call on Wednesday 3 October for Member States to develop a sustainable response to the migration challenge, particularly through the reform of the Dublin asylum system.
During a debate in the European Parliament plenary session, Budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger expressed the Commission's wish that such a solution be found before the European elections. He also called on Member States to step up their support for local and regional authorities assisting migrants and working towards their integration. The post-2020 multiannual financial framework aims to give them more budgetary resources.
Several MEPs from the EPP and S&D groups, such as Claude Moraes (S&D, UK), mentioned in particular the situation in Greece and its islands, which are overwhelmed by the number of people to be cared for.
The debate was centred on the humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean Sea and how to support local and regional authorities in receiving migrants. Initially, the Greens/EFA Group wanted a debate on the situation of the Aquarius ship, back in Marseille after having disembarked the migrants rescued in Malta, but the request was rejected by the other EP groups.
It was an opportunity for some elected officials such as Sophie in't Veld (ALDE, Netherlands) to denounce the criminalisation of aid at sea. "It is the 28 who should rather be criminalised" and placed under house arrest, as they have "criminally" failed to find a solution, she said. (original version in French by Solenn Paulic)