Mediterranean crisis will only be solved by common European response

"What do European citizens think when they see the images on TV, when they see the tragedies that are going on in the Mediterranean? The answer is clear: we need to have a European response", said Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, during the debate on migration in the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

"The EPP Group welcomes the solidarity mechanism that has been proposed, but which still needs to be put together. On the other hand, we also need to make sure that those who do not fulfil the criteria to be granted asylum should be returned. It is the only way to ensure that European citizens support our asylum policy in the long run", he said.

"The current crisis in the Mediterranean will only be solved by a common European response. We are willing to continue the good job that the European Commission has initiated. For now, it is the Member States who are not playing their part. We call on Member States to go along with European initiatives."