Press Releases

It is a pleasure to meet you again, with the objective to put together all the experience that we share, as the countries of the south of the European Union, as the Member States that know first-hand, over the last decades, what it means to deal with migratory flows.

But first of all, dear Nicos, allow me to thank you in particular for the magnificent organization of this summit, in this extraordinary region of your island, of your country, where you have made us feel at home.

Thank you and all your team for giving us this opportunity to continue building bridges between brother countries.

Athens, Málaga, Venice and now Neo Chorio: we have already travelled a long road. But I am convinced, as Nicos has said today, that we all share the need to continue to make a common team, to continue working tirelessly, so that the voice of the Southern countries will be key in the process to finally agree a realistic, fair and truly European Migration and Asylum Pact.

Realistic, because we southern European countries know that no system can ever work if the burden of responsibility continues to fall almost exclusively on the countries of first entry. The events of recent months should make more and more countries, more and more member states, aware of this reality.

Fair, because we know and defend that if the principle of flexibility is applied to solidarity mechanisms, the same criterion should be applied to the principles of responsibility.

And European, because we know that in the founding philosophy of our Union, at its very core, is the principle of shared responsibility between member states.  Because we know that it is only through agreement, often coming from distant positions, that a common project can be built.

For all these reasons, dear colleagues, Spain is committed. Spain, from the accumulated experience that has allowed us to effectively manage irregular arrivals in recent years, will continue to defend the need to articulate a real and effective cooperation with the countries of origin and transit.

Spain will continue to defend as essential the principal for fair share of responsibility and solidarity.

And we will continue to defend that all this is possible to achieve now, in this very mandate of the European Parliament.

For this, dear colleagues, Spain will continue working in these lines, firmly but also with the will to reaching consensus. And, above all, Spain will continue walking by your side, dear friends, so that Europe continues to be Europe.

(NG/SCH/IK)