The European Conservatives and Reformists Group sees much to be done in the upcoming trilogue on the documents related to the European Pact on Migration, adopted today in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

According to ECR Coordinator Patryk Jaki, “the Parliament’s amendments have altered the Commission proposal to such an extent that it is no longer fit for purpose and would make it almost impossible for Member States to effectively combat illegal migration to the EU.”

Jaki added: “I don’t think this unrealistic text has much chance in the Council given the current situation where we are in the middle of a new wave of immigration. I see difficult trilogue negotiations ahead and I hope for changes that will remind us, firstly, of the treaty rules and competences of the Member States and, secondly, that our primary task is to ensure the security of our citizens: Europeans.”

The ECR Group also believes that more asylum applications must be made from outside EU Member State borders. Unfortunately, the current draft only provides for the promotion of these types of partnerships with third countries on a residual basis