"We need to stand together and insist on concrete change.

Anything less would be shirking our responsibility." - Roberta Metsola

"We all stood here a year ago and promised that it would be the last time: That never again will the Mediterranean become a cemetery of broken people and broken dreams. One year later, here we are again after close to 500 people were murdered by traffickers crossing the Mediterranean; we need to do more, much more," said Dr Metsola.

A year after the European Parliament agreed on a cross-party resolution on migration in the Mediterranean, Member of the European Parliament for Malta Roberta Metsola said that the people of Europe needed more than the same words, promulgating the same broken promises."

Addressing the European Parliament after His Holiness Pope Francis spoke earlier in the morning and called on the EU not to turn the "Mediterranean into a graveyard", Dr Metsola stressed the need for MEPs to stand together and insist on concrete change. "Anything less would be shirking our responsibility."

The cross-party resolution that MEPs voted upon last year followed the tragedy near the island of Lampedusa, when more than 350 people lost their lives trying to reach Italy.

Dr Metsola noted that the resolution was meant to serve as a Roadmap for the European Commission and Member States to finally take action, provide a holistic approach to migration and go after the traffickers responsible, but Governments have not taken enough action.

She emphasised that the resolution that MEPs will be voting upon next month needs to insist on solidarity between Member States, ensuring a holistic approach on migration, addressing Europe's asylum system and ensuring that legislation shares responsibility equally among States. "Anyone who thinks that migration can be solved without an all-encompassing holistic approach from the EU does not appreciate the challenge facing us", added Dr Metsola

Dr Metsola appealed to all groups to put partisan objectives aside and insist on concrete action. "Otherwise, we'll be here in a year, offering our regrets after yet more people have drowned in our seas."