Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-09-26-Speech-3-039"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20070926.2.3-039"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, we indeed welcomed this joint debate because it is impossible today to have a truly effective and coherent European immigration policy without tackling these two issues together and on a Community level.
For a number of years our respective countries have adopted a restrictive policy towards immigration, yet this policy has not stopped migrants arriving. On the contrary, they continue to come to Europe, at great personal risk, to find better living conditions and for many of them it is a question of survival. The world is now a global village and we will never be able to stop those who are fleeing from misery and despair. Some people continue to project the illusion that we can close our borders and they are being completely irresponsible.
It all comes down to a question of morals and of solidarity and it is up to us to help out all those countries that are in distress. That is also why I want to see this debate extended to include more than just Frontex. Certainly the European Council has to explain why Frontex was forced to suspend its operations in the Mediterranean in mid-August for want of operational resources. However, the question we really should be focusing on is this: how do we enable those who want to come to Europe to do so in a properly regulated manner?
We should of course look into the possibility of introducing a European Blue Card: this would allow migrants to move freely between Europe and their country of origin and to do so transparently and in safety. At the same time it is important that the Commission should first put forward a proposal defining a common basis for the rights of migrants. There are a great many people who are scandalously exploited in our different countries. We need fully to realise that in today’s changing world it is now a matter of urgency that those countries where people are still living in misery are allowed to develop harmoniously. This is nothing more than our duty. Everyone should have the right to stay and live in their country of birth: the way things are at present they do not have this choice.
Finally, I hope that the Member States respect the mandate of the Intergovernmental Conference to put the matter of legal immigration to qualified majority voting and to codecision. I would just repeat that this is absolutely essential if we are to adopt a coherent European policy in this area."@en1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples