Following this afternoon's discussion in the European Parliament on addressing refugee and migrant movements, S&D vice-president Elena Valenciano said:
"The EU must pay more attention to the external dimension of migration. As such, we welcome the initiatives undertaken by the Commission and the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, Federica Mogherini, but we are, however, concerned about the prevailing security-driven approach. Migration should not be demonised nor migrants criminalised.
"We call for the full respect of migrants and refugees’ rights and dignity, regardless their legal status.
"Our development policy must focus on the root causes of this phenomenon and never be conditional upon the collaboration of any country on readmissions or border control. The EU should co-operate more closely with third countries, in a spirit of solidarity.
"We urgently need to establish safe and legal channels for asylum seekers and potential migrants, which would be the best way to break the business of human traffickers and organised crime.
"The European Parliament must be fully involved on all current initiatives on refugee and migrant movements and in their budgetary consequences."
