Activities of Marlene MIZZI related to 2015/2095(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
The situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration (debate) MT
The situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration (A8-0066/2016 - Roberta Metsola, Kashetu Kyenge)
Amendments (32)
Amendment 4 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to take measures in order to respond to the unprecedented crisis in the Mediterranean and to improve management of migration in all its aspects by reinforcing its migration policy and adopting a strategic European Agenda on Migration, which is a good first stepn important first step towards fair sharing of responsibilities and solidarity, saving lives, improving access to international protection and correcting distortions in the existing system currently placing extreme pressure on the external borders of Europe;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Points out that numerous petitions submitted by EU citizens refer to a wide range of issues relating to the crisis in the Mediterranean, expressing shock at the tragic loss of life, and asking the European Union to act in swift and determined manner in order to prevent this tragedy from happening; the alleged shortcomings in the implementation of the European asylum and migration acquis and violations of fundamental rights, the ineffectiveness of the existing Dublin system and the lack of a comprehensive EU migration policy resulting in ‘push- backs’ at sea and refusal of entry at borders; the ineffectiveness of the existing Dublin system resulting in disproportionate burdens on receiving countries and the lack of a comprehensive EU migration policy; the necessity for increased efforts at the European level to uphold the rights of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees and support their integration in the EU;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Emphasises that, given the scale of the recent tragedies and the alarming increase in irregular arrivals and deaths at sea, the EU and the Member States can no longer be observers but must take ownership and strong political leadership of the debate and fully endorse the Commission Agenda on Migration;
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission Communication 'Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors',[1]and the European Parliament Resolution of 12 September 2013 on the situation of unaccompanied minors in the EU [1] COM 82010)0213 def Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council - Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors (2010-2014)
Amendment 33 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses that action taken by the EU needs to be regularly monitored and enhanced to ensure full transposition of the Common European Asylum System by the Member States to properly tackle illegal migration, move towards more practical and tangible form of solidarity and an equitable allocation of responsibilities, improve governance of the asylum system, foster conflict resolution in countries of origin and strengthen the capacity of transit countries;
Amendment 46 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Emphasises that monitoring, collecting and analysing information on migration flows and patterns in sea crossings between EU and African states need to be improved and coordinated by a centralised EU migration data management mechanism, which would provide regular assessment reports and strengthen consistency, planning and crisis management, thus helping activate early warning systems at EU level to react promptly to future migration crises;
Amendment 50 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the EU and the Member States to adopt, as a matter of urgency, a comprehensive European migration and asylum policy, based on respect for human rights and dignity, international standards and the values on which the EU is built and on the principle of solidarity as set out in Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU);
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 60 a (new)
Citation 60 a (new)
- having regard to the numerous petitions submitted by EU citizens to the Petitions Committee in the European Parliament referring to a wide range of issues relating to the crisis in the Mediterranean and the tragic loss of life at sea, the shortcomings in the implementation of the European asylum and migration acquis and the ineffectiveness of the existing Dublin system, the lack of a comprehensive EU migration policy and the failure to apply the principle of solidarity, and violations of fundamental human rights;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Expresses its concern that a large number of children, including unaccompanied minors, who are especially vulnerable, are travelling across the Mediterranean; calls on the EU and the Member States to uphold the principle of the best interest of the child, including ensuring proper treatment and access to child-friendly asylum procedures, avoiding transfers of unaccompanied minors unless it is in their best interest, taking into consideration family reunification possibilities, safety and security of the child;
Amendment 61 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers the important preventive measures contained in the Commission’s agenda for fighting smuggling networksand in particular the ones aimed at saving human lives, emergency relocation mechanism, and fighting smuggling networks to address the emergency of the situation and tackling the root causes of migration to baddress the long-term objectives, but recalls that, meanwhile, flows of people will continue and that a EU- wide permanent and binding relocation mechanism that can be triggered quickly in case of emergency for people in need of international protection based on fair objective criteria is needed as a matter of urgency;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas in 2015, over 3.771 persons are reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean sea, according to the International Organisation for Migration8 ; whereas children represent 30 per cent of all recorded deaths in the Aegean Sea[1]; whereas according to recent Europol data at least 10 000 unaccompanied children have disappeared after arriving in Europe [1] IOM and UNICEF, Data Brief: Migration of Children to Europe, http://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/press _release/file/IOM-UNICEF-Data-Brief- Refugee-and-Migrant-Crisis-in-Europe- 30.11.15.pdf __________________ 8 IOM, Missing Migrants Project, http://missingmigrants.iom.int/.
Amendment 78 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to ensure a meaningful revision of the Dublin Regulation in order to alleviate sudden and disproportionate migration pressure on the Member States at the external borders of the EU such as Malta, Italy and MaltaGreece, which are more directly exposed to migrant flows, without undermining the security of the Union’s external borders;
Amendment 80 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Recognises that, given the large and increasing numbers of people crossing the Mediterranean, the number of persons in clear need of international protection included in the emergency mechanisms does not adequately meet the EU Member States’ responsibility to ensure the protection of vulnerable people, reaching the EU external borders; Calls on the Member States to increase the use of safe and legal access channels to the EU for asylum seekers and people in need of international protection in order to develop legal routes to the EU, eradicate smuggling and reduce the number of lives lost at sea;
Amendment 82 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Urges the EU to continue reinforcing operation Triton at the level of the Mare Nostrum operation; Calls on the Commission to provide continuous financial support and transparent monitoring for FRONTEX and its operational expenditure and activities;
Amendment 85 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the EU and the Member States to provide an international framework for dialogue and a comprehensive debate on migration with third countries of origin and transit in order to ensure closer solidarity and cooperation with the EU, address the root causes of migration and ensure progress on negotiations and full implementation of readmission agreements; calls on the EU to revise its funding programmes in order to ensure that funds are channelled into the right projects which result in improving health and education, industry and infrastructure in order to create jobs and improve the possibility of a dignified future in countries of migrant origin;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
Recital M a (new)
M a. whereas all EU Member States have a duty to protect and promote the rights of all children and ensure that migrant children are treated first and foremost as children and that the principle of the child's best interests takes precedence over migration management objectives;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Suggests, in that respect, that search and rescue capacities must be strengthened, and that Member States’ governments must deploy more resources – in terms of financial assistance and assets – in the context of a Union-wide humanitarian operation, dedicated to finding, rescuing and assisting migrants in peril and bringing them to the closest place of safety, recommends that, in planning such search and rescue operations, child specific measures be taken, such as child safeguarding policies in manuals on search and rescue, child protection trainings and child-focused care at disembark;
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Emphasises that full use should be made of existing instruments, such as the agencies’ risk analyses; observes that which should provide regular assessment reports, planning and crisis management, thus helping activate early warning systems at EU level; observes that in order to be able to react promptly to migration flows and patterns in borders crossings Union agencies should cooperate fully, but that they also need to step up cooperation with Member States; notes that better coordination of efforts should allow for the collection of data at national level and its onward communication to the Agencies;
Amendment 431 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Believes that the preferences of the applicant should, as much as practically possible, be taken into account when carrying out relocation; recognises that this is one way of discouraging secondary movements and encouraging applicants themselves to accept relocation decisions, but that it should not stop the relocation process; further recalls that the best interest of the child must be a primary consideration should always guide any decision on relocation involving children;
Amendment 515 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Points out that further steps are necessary to achieve full harmonisation and Europeanisation of the European asylum policy, based on respect for human rights and dignity, international standards and the values on which the EU is built, and to ensure that the CEAS could becomes a truly uniform system; effective and uniform solidarity-sharing system among all Member States;
Amendment 551 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30 a (new)
Paragraph 30 a (new)
30a. Stresses further that the premise for Dublin is outdated and based on a very different geo-political environment than the one faced today; Calls for an overhaul of the archaic Dublin System into a system which deals with the registration of asylum seekers separately from asylum claims, under the provisions granted by the Common European Asylum System; Highlights that the "irregular entry" criterion should no longer be taken into account to determine which Member State shall be responsible for the examination of an asylum claim, but that the responsibility for the examination of an asylum claim should be made through a centralised system in a way that ensures no Member State's reception capacities are disproportionately affected; calls for the allocation of technical and financial resources and support to Member States of first arrival in order to ensure the swift and effective registration of asylum seekers in full respect of fundamental human rights of refugees;
Amendment 617 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Notes that, at present, Member States recognise asylum decisions from other Member States only when they are negative; reiterates that mutual recognition by Member States of positive asylum decisions imust also be recognised as a logical step towards proper implementation of Article 78(2)(a) TFEU, which calls for ‘a uniform status of asylum valid throughout the Union’;
Amendment 633 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Believes that the asylum systems of some frontline Member States are already clearly overburdened and that the Temporary Protection Directive should – under its own logic – have been triggered; calls, in any case, for a clear definition of ‘what constitutes a 'mass influx’' to be established upon revision of this directivDirective taking into consideration different criteria such as the size of the territory of the Member State and the population density of the Member State; understands that such a revision of the Temporary Protection Directive can form part of the review of the Dublin system;
Amendment 698 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44 a (new)
Paragraph 44 a (new)
44 a. Calls on the Member States to establish national integration support programmes, allocate adequate resources and support, and improve the application of the Common Basic Principles for Immigrant Integration Policy in the EU; calls on the Commission to strengthen the role of the network of National Contact Points on Integration and of the European Integration Forum as platforms for dialogue to ensure better integration and exchanges of promising practices among Member States;
Amendment 705 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 45
Paragraph 45
45. Encourages the Member States to seek to keep families together, which will assist integration prospects in the long-term as the focus can be directed towards the establishment of a new life instead of concerns towards family members that are still in insecure situations; urges Member States to take all measures necessary to prevent the separation of a child from his/her parents;
Amendment 723 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 a (new)
Paragraph 47 a (new)
47 a. On Unaccompanied Minors (new title)
Amendment 724 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 b (new)
Paragraph 47 b (new)
47 b. Recalls that refugee and migrant children should be provided with information on their right to family reunification and how to claim it in a child-friendly way; Recalls that support and protection should be extended to unaccompanied and separated children, in line with their best interests, and that applications for family reunification filed by unaccompanied and separated children should be expedited;
Amendment 725 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 c (new)
Paragraph 47 c (new)
47 c. Calls on Member States to fully apply the specific provisions of the Common European Asylum System concerning unaccompanied minors, including access to legal assistance, guardianship, access to healthcare, accommodation and education, the right to be spoken in a language they understand, to have interviews with trained officials not in a uniform, etc.; calls on the Member States to end detention of children because they are migrants.
Amendment 726 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 d (new)
Paragraph 47 d (new)
47 d. Calls on the Member States to ensure that refugee and migrant children enjoy rapid and non-discriminatory access to national services, including child protection systems, in line with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with the same level of care and support recognised to national children deprived of parental care; calls on Member States to gather disaggregated data on the situation of refugee and migrant children in order to improve the ability of systems to integrate refugee and migrant children;
Amendment 727 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47 e (new)
Paragraph 47 e (new)
47 e. Believes that age assessment should be carried out in a manner that is multi- disciplinary, safe and in respect of children's physical integrity and human dignity, with particular attention to girls and should be performed by independent, qualified practitioners and experts; calls for legal guardians to be appointed to support unaccompanied and separated children immediately upon identification and calls on the Member States to speed up procedures for appointing legal guardians
Amendment 773 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Believes that the return of migrants should only be carried out safely, in full compliance with the fundamental and procedural rights of the migrants in question, and where the country to which they are being returned is safe for them; reiterates, in that regard, that voluntary return should be prioritised over forced returns; recalls no child should be returned without a thorough risk assessment, conducted by independent child protection officer, and based on Country of Origin Information reports in cooperation with non-governmental, local and international organisation to ensure protection and reintegration after their return;
Amendment 1030 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 85 a (new)
Paragraph 85 a (new)
85a. Welcomes the commitments taken at the Valletta summit which recognise the need to give hope and opportunities to young people, and to protect children from violence and abuse;