MEPs demand an end to migrant deaths across the Mediterranean Sea

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  MEPs call on EU leaders to agree on a position on the Dublin system
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  Next EU summit in Brussels on 28-29 June will be crucial
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  European reception centres in transit countries to assist migrants

Ahead of the next EU summit on 28-29 June, MEPs urge EU leaders to show real political will and draw up genuine solutions to finally end the migration crises.

In a debate with European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans i and Deputy Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Monika Panayotova, on Tuesday morning, MEPs laid out their priorities for the next crucial EU summit in Brussels on 28-29 June.

Some of the political groups urged EU leaders at the summit to put an end to formal discussions on migration and start working towards an agreement on the so-called “Dublin system”. They referred to the new Italian government’s recent decision to refuse a boat carrying migrants, the MS Aquarius, to dock in the country over the weekend as a “disgrace” and “a scandal”.

EP President Antonio Tajani also called on EU leaders at the summit to press ahead with overhauling the Dublin rules, whilst pointing out that the European Parliament has adopted a clear position on the matter, based on solidarity.

Some groups further stressed the need to build new European reception centres to assist migrants arriving in transit countries. Others highlighted that a solution to solve the migration crises, based on quotas and mandatory reallocation of refugees, simply cannot work, as demonstrated so far, and that other options need to be put on the table.

MEPs also discussed US trade barriers and reforming the Eurozone, calling on the European Council to take further action with revamping the EMU.