| Author (Corporate) | European Commission: DG Communication |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Press Release |
| Series Details | IP/15/5039 (27.05.15) |
| Publication Date | 27/05/2015 |
| Content Type | News |
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Two weeks after presenting the European Agenda on Migration, the European Commission adopted on 27 May 2015 the first specific proposals of its comprehensive approach to improving the management of migration. Following the major loss of life in the Mediterranean in April 2015, European leaders made a firm commitment to solidarity amongst Member States to address the common migratory challenges. The specific proposals concerned were: + Relocation: Emergency response mechanism to assist Italy and Greece On the same day UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave a speech in the European Parliament. He said Europe should focus on saving lives when dealing with migration During the plenary session he called attention to the 1,800 people who drowned while crossing the Mediterranean in 2015: 'Europe has an important role to play and a collective responsibility to act. Saving lives should be the priority'. In a joint statement released on the 1 June 2015, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and his French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve, called for the migrant quotas proposed by the European Commission to be made more equitable. The two ministers said that the plan 'should take more properly into account the efforts already made by member states regarding international protection, and other forms of assistance, pointing out that Germany, France, Sweden, Italy and Hungary have so far taken in 75% of asylum-seekers. Libya's ambassador to the United Nations stated that the government would not allow any UN action to endorse Europe's military plan to fight migrant smugglers in the Mediterranean until European governments stopped conversations with coastal militias. |
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| Source Link | http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5039_en.htm |
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| Subject Categories | Justice and Home Affairs |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
