After the Aquarius-case this week and before the background of the dispute in the German Conservative parties, S&D president Udo Bullmann calls on Donald Tusk to take all necessary actions to allow for a breakthrough on the migration issue at the June Council.

 

 

“This week‘s developments have made it crystal clear, once again: we cannot afford another postponement of decisions on asylum at the June European council! Leaders cannot sit and watch while narrow-minded and nationalistic actions prime over humanity. We need to take actions now! Without a compromise on a European system, we will see again more deaths in the Mediterranean Sea and we will put at risk the stability of the European Union. This is why we call on the president of the European council, Donald Tusk, to make sure the reform of Dublin is set for decision on the agenda at the next summit in two weeks.

 

“The only sustainable answer to the migration issue is a European one. The current European asylum system leaves countries on Europe's borders, such as Italy and Greece, to face the bulk of asylum cases alone, and allows other countries to shirk their humanitarian responsibilities. This way, we are turning a manageable situation into a crisis. The European Council needs to follow the EP decision on the asylum system and reach a universally binding solution in which member states share humanitarian responsibility in a fair way.

 

The CSU in Germany is obviously trying to gain the Bavarian elections at the expense of refugees, and have no problem with risking the unity of the EU for their short-term goals. This is irresponsible and unacceptable.”