Speaking during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Marlene Mizzi had strong words about the lack of support and effective solutions when it comes to the current humanitarian emergency crisis on migration.

"The current crisis has clearly demonstrated that the existing solutions at European level are definitely not fit for purpose and that the only way forward is through a common European solution. " said MEP Mizzi as the Petitions Committee rapporteur on the "Situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration " 

Marlene Mizzi also referred to her PETI Opinion which was approved by an overwhelming majority and that directly fed into the European Parliament's strategic Report on Migration, which provided tactical recommendations to the Member States and to the European Commission, on how to tackle the migration crisis in a concrete and effective manner.

In her speech Marlene Mizzi said: "This is no time to hesitate. We must put an end to the current Dublin Regulation, which in its current form is completely dysfunctional and useless. We need a central system for the allocation of responsibilities and legal routes for safe and legal access to the EU, so that we can control better the flows of migrants. And last but not least, we need to tackle the roots causes of migration and to give a future to those people in their own country." 

"The voice of the European Parliament, through the adoption of that strategic Report  will put the needed political pressure on the Member States and the Commission to finally adopt and push forward a comprehensive European asylum and migration policy”, added MEP Mizzi.

In conclusion, MEP Mizzi said in her speech: "It is obvious from the high number of petitions submitted by European citizens that at the moment migration is one of their biggest concerns. It is time to show to our citizens that their fears are being addressed. Buzz words like fair sharing of responsibility, integration and solidarity have no meaning unless they are backed by concrete, visible and effective actions."