Watch: ‘Europe Has Failed’ – Cyrus Engerer Addresses Parliament With Powerful Speech On Migration
MEP Cyrus Engerer has spoken out against the European Council and Commission in its efforts toward combatting the migrant crisis.
“I speak to many people in our squares, in Malta and other countries and what do they say about migration? Europe has failed,” he told the chamber during the first October plenary session.
“I also speak to migrants in detention centres and others who are free, do you know what they say about migration? Europe has failed.”
“Like how many of us have said in the European Parliament this morning about migration; Europe has failed.”
During his one-minute speech, Engerer explained that the Council has had eight years to come up with a common position on migration and such an agreement is yet to be seen.
“We’ve done our job in this parliament, we have a strong position and we’ve spent eight years waiting on the council. I hope that in the meeting they have today they will wake up and reach a common position.”
Engerer went on to criticise the Commission’s EU-Tunisia migration deal which will provide cash to Tunis in exchange for stronger border controls
This agreement has set aside over €700 million in bloc funds to help Tunisia stabilise its economy, manage migration, and boost renewable energy. The agreement further includes the possibility of an additional €900 million in macro-financial assistance.
€105 million will be allocated by the memorandum to combat anti-smuggling operations, reinforce border management, and speed up the return of the asylum-seekers whose applications are denied.
“Meanwhile, the Commission tried to throw money without the consent of this parliament in the pockets of President Sayed of Tunisia, so that one way or another she would shut the mouths of the populists on this side of the room,” he said as he pointed to his right.
“But for nothing because the money that they put in the pocket of Sayed did nothing. We saw what happened in Lampedusa these last couple of weeks.”
“Citizens deserve a solution and it is our duty to give them one.”
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