New EU migration plan meets with mixed support
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E-mail Xinhua, June 8, 2016
The Members of European Parliament (MEPs) gathered for a plenary session Tuesday to debate on the "New Migration Partnership Framework" proposed by Brussels and based on reinforced cooperation with third countries.
The new migration plan of the EU has met with support in principle w
ithin the ranks of the traditional parties of both the right and left wings.
First Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans pleaded the utilization of EU funds in order to promote private investment in the countries of origin of migrants, in particular in Africa, within the framework of a partnership.
"The business mode of the people smugglers between Turkey and Greece was broken thanks to the agreement with Turkey. People are no longer dying in the Aegean," affirmed the high European functionary.
"But if we closed one door, another opens in the South Mediterranean," he added. "We, which is to say the European Commission and the member states, must work more with countries of origin and transit nations," he pleaded.
The plan - which would be a "partnership," principally with Africa - establishes new financing to "reach a total of 8 billion euros (9 billion U.S. dollars) within 5 years," specified Timmermans.
Although a large majority of MEPs defended the principle of welcome and of solidarity towards the refugees, as well as the need for a policy of openness, at the extreme right of the political spectrum and among euroskeptics, however, numerous voices were raised in favor of a strict closure of borders, as has frequently been the case in recent months in the Strasbourg hemicycle.
During a debate later on Tuesday afternoon, the MEPs debated with European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos over two other proposals connected to migration: an examination of the "blue card" system regulating the admissions conditions for highly qualified immigrants, as well as a new action plan for integration.
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