Last week's CoR plenary session brought a lively debate on the EU's migration policy and dramatic situation at Europe's Southern shores. EPP/CoR members took part in a discussion with Roberta Metsola, MEP (EPP/MT), who appealed for long term. "We would like to send a very strong message to the citizens that Europe is with them and that we won't allow transformation of the Mediterranean Sea to the cemetery of lost lives hopes. Europe should not be a fortress." she said before addressing regional and local authorities from the Member States far from the Mediterranean: "Not being a country in the Mediterranean doesn't exclude you from shared responsibility in tackling problem".
Speaking on behalf of the EPP/CoR Group Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos underlined that most of the refugees come from the warfare areas or those, where they are unable to improve their economic situation – "Attracting skilled migrants to Europe won't solve the complexity of the problem. We need to react now, because there are people drowning in the Mediterranean. We should take action to the ground level " – he appealed underling the active role local and regional authorities deliver on the spot.
The CoR will adopt a resolution on the topic at the upcoming plenary session in July.