EU committee approves Mizzi’s asylum seeker report

The European Parliament’s Petitions Committee have approved a report by Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi outlining the need for a holistic EU approach to the Mediterranean’s refugee crisis.

The Socialists and Democrats political group in April appointed Mizzi as their rapporteur to prepare a report on the Mediterranean’s migration problem. The report aims to feed into a European Parliament strategic report on migration and to provide concrete recommendations to both the European Commission and member states.

Mizzi’s report – which was approved with 23 votes in favour, three abstentions and no rejections – looks into petitions submitted by EU citizens to the European Parliament on a wide range of issues relating to the crisis in the Mediterranean. In a statement, Mizzi said that her report calls on the EC and member states to act in a swift and determined manner to improve the situation.

It also  highlights the major imbalances that exist in the EU migration policy and the pressures that puts on countries such as Malta and Italy facing an increased influx of migrants, the ineffectiveness of the Dublin regulation, the lack of a comprehensive EU migration policy and the failure to apply the principle of solidarity.

“It is indeed very satisfying to see the positive result that we got on this opinion especially when one considers the difficulty to reach an agreement among the different Member States and different political groups on this particular issue,” Mizzi said after the vote. “The fact that there was an overwhelming majority and no votes against shows the willingness of the PETI Committee to respond to the migration crisis and establish an effective, humanitarian and safe European migration policy.

“Immigration is EU citizens’ fastest-growing concern, according to the latest Eurobarometer poll. With this opinion, we have ensured that citizens' concerns on migration are finally being heard.

"I have proposed various short-term and medium-term measures in response to the crisis, but what is also very important is that the report acknowledges the key role the Valletta summit has in providing international framework agreement to tackle the root causes of migration and in opening a dialogue with third countries to insure international solidarity and cooperation not only among EU members states but also worldwide.

 “Last but not least, I have recommended the creation of a centralised EU migration data management mechanism, which would better analyse information on migration flows and patterns in sea crossing and thus help us strengthen consistent planning and crisis management, so that we can activate early warning systems at EU level.”