EURACTIV PR

An easy way of publishing your relevant EU press releases.

UK Referendum and migration debate: a divided Europe is a weak Europe

Date

25 Feb 2016

Sections

UK in Europe

"We have war in Ukraine, in Libya, in Syria, we have an aggressive Russian partner in President Putin, and we have too many people seeking jobs and prosperity. Europe is in a very difficult situation. And despite all these difficulties, the welfare benefits for migrants and the problems of the City of London were the top priorities of the last European Council. Is this the right priority?", said Manfred Weber MEP, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, in the plenary debate on the outcome of the last Council meeting.

"Nevertheless we have an agreement and the EPP Group supports the core of the agreement on the British referendum reached last week. David Cameron got a solid outcome in the negotiations for British citizens. If the British people decide to remain in the EU, they will find an ally in the EPP Group for the swift implementation of the agreement. A divided Europe is a weak Europe. In the case that they say no, there is no other agreement. This is the only one and there will be no follow-up negotiations", Weber continued.

Regarding migration, Manfred Weber criticised some Member States for national egoism by not implementing the decisions taken. "We have to secure Europe's borders. This is our commitment. But the people who are fleeing Aleppo, destroyed with the help of Russian bombs, should not be abandoned at the Turkish-Syrian border. We have done enough talking. Now we need to act."

Jobs

EUI - European University Institute
Coordinator of the Academy of European Law
Eurosif - The European Sustainable Investment Forum
(Senior) Policy Adviser
Sealed Air Belgium N.V.
Government Affairs Senior Manager
Save the Children
Consultancy ToR
CCAM Association
Office Assistant
SolarPower Europe
Senior Policy Advisor
SAFE Safe Food Advocacy Europe A.S.B.L.
EU Projects & Policy Officer
LRE Foundation
Communications Trainee