Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola has urged EU Member States to put money in development aid in African countries and tackle immigration from its very roots.

Dr Metsola said Member States need to put their money where their mouth is and put up the funds to help build capacity in third-countries where there is no future for people. Speaking during a debate at the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, Dr Metsola said that the EU and Member States "need to encourage investment into developing countries and establish a so-called Marshall Plan - that will give people a chance at a future there without fear and stem migration to Europe".

Dr Metsola, who is the European Parliament rapporteur on a holistic approach to migration, said "All too often, our focus is on emergency measures and fire-fighting situations but it clear that we need to do more to work to prevent these situations from occurring in the first place. As politicians we need to move away from our traditional comfort zones and start to tackle the causes of migration otherwise we risk our actions always being too little too late."

Underlining Europe's place in world geo-politics, Dr Metsola said that "migration is a global phenomenon but one that requires measured, compassionate and effective European leadership. Europe needs thinking that goes beyond tomorrow's headlines and instead focuses on tomorrow's generation. Too often States have been found wanting."

"Europe needs to renew its relationship with key States in Africa.  We can and we should help States build up their law enforcement, judicial and - crucially - asylum systems so that people in need of protection can also find safe haven in States outside of Europe -closer to their countries of origin, but these States must also accept the return of their nationals who are not in eligible for protection in Europe." added Dr Metsola.