Activities of Angelika MLINAR related to 2015/2095(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
The situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration (debate) DE
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on the situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a holistic EU approach to migration
Amendments (53)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas women asylum seekers and undocumented migrantmigrant women, with or without documents, and women asylum seekers are particularly vulnerable to all forms of violence, including sexual violence, at all stages of their journey;
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas women seeking asylum have specific protection concerns and worries that are different to those of men and introducing a gender perspective into asylum procedures allows for these differences to be taken into account;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas in some countries even when available, migrant women do not always have access to prenatal care;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas feminisation of migration gives rise to specific problems, such as the commercialised migration of women and girls as domestic workers and carers, often resulting in the trafficking of women for labour and sexual exploitation;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas there exist disparities across the Member States in the treatment of women seeking asylum and a holistic EU approach to asylum and immigration must ensure that consistent and gender-sensitive procedures, guidelines and support services in the asylum process are in place;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the on-going refugee crisis has highlighted the disproportionate responsibilities placed on certain Member States situated on the external borders of the European Union and the need to establish a sharing of responsibilities with regards to the reception of asylum seekers as well as the management of the EU external border;
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas migrant smuggling, trafficking and labour exploitation are distinct legal phenomena, tackled by distinct legal frameworks at the EU and international level, requiring properly targeted responses, while often overlapping in practice; and whereas criminal smuggling and trafficking networks can change their modus operandi very quickly, thus requiring rapidly adapted responses based on the most recent and accurate data; Whereas efforts to counter the smuggling of migrants should not affect those that are providing humanitarian assistance to irregular migrants;
Amendment 110 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Urges all the Member States to sign and ratify the Istanbul Convention and to apply Article 59 thereof, which clearly states that the Parties should take the necessary measures to suspend expulsion proceedings and/or to grant an autonomous residence permit in the event of a dissolution of marriage to those women migrants whose residence status depends on their spouse.
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital H a (new)
Recital H a (new)
H a. whereas the creation of safe and legal routes to the EU for both asylum seekers and economic migrants is the most efficient way to fight smugglers and save lives;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital U a (new)
Recital U a (new)
U a. whereas EASO disposes of a staff of 75 people, which is very limited with regards to the number of tasks it has to accomplish;
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital V a (new)
Recital V a (new)
V a. whereas the multifaceted character of the internal and external aspects of the migratory policy necessitates a coordinated and concerted approach by all affected European actors; whereas all affected commissioners and their respective administrations should ensure that all necessary efforts are being made to increase their cooperation in order to ensure a coherent and efficient migratory policy on the European level;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Notes that an effective guardianship and a child-sensitive protection systems are key to preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation of children deprived of parental care; stresses the importance of defining EU guidelines for an harmonized guardianship systems aimed at providing adequate support and protection and at granting that foreign and national children are treated equally;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Underlines that efforts should be made to enhance the capacities of Member States to investigate and prosecute migrant smuggling networks notably through stronger coordination between law enforcement and judiciary structures in the European Union and the sharing of information between Member States and with EU Agencies;
Amendment 410 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Is of the opinion that, in addition toNotes the criteria contained in the Relocation Decisions, namely the GDP of the Member State, the population of the Member State, the unemployment rate in the Member State, and the past numbers of asylum seekers in the Member State, consideration should be given to two other criteria, namely, the size of the territory of the Member State and the population density of the Member State;
Amendment 504 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Supports the creation, in the framework of the reforms of the Visa Code, of a humanitarian visa which should allow its holder to enter into the territory of the Member State that has issued it for the sole purpose of asking for international protection in accordance with definitions of article 2(a) of the directive 2011/95/EU;
Amendment 519 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Regrets the existence of strong disparities between Member States with regards to the recognition rates for asylum requests, the lengths of the procedures and the access to education, social rights and the labour market; Recommends therefore a revision of the asylum procedures directive with a view to increase the harmonisation between Member States of the reception conditions, the procedural deadlines, access to education, the labour market and social rights;
Amendment 520 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Calls for an increased sharing of best practices within the field of reception conditions and asylum procedures and suggests in this context to make use especially of the experience within local and regional authorities;
Amendment 547 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Observes that the operation of the Dublin III Regulation10 has raised many questions linked to fairness and solidarity in the allocation of the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection; notes that the current system does not take into sufficient consideration the particular migratory pressure faced by Member States situated at the Union’s external borders; believes that the European UnionMember States needs to accept the on-going difficulties with the Dublin logic, and tohat the European Union should develop options for solidarity both among its Member States and the migrants concerned; __________________ 10 Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (recast) (OJ L 180, 29.6.2013, p. 31).
Amendment 555 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Points out that the pressure placed on the system – as established by the Dublin Regulation – by the rising number of migrants arriving in the Union has shown that, as implemented, the system has largely failed to achieve its two primary goals of establishing objective and fair criteria for allocation of responsibility and of providing swift access to international protection; Further points out that these failures have been present also before the current crisis and that the effects have only been exacerbated by it;
Amendment 594 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Points out that one option forConsiders that a fundamental overhaul of the Dublin system wshould binclude tohe establishment of a central collection of applications at Union level – viewing each asylum seeker as someone seeking asylum in the Union as a whole and not in an individual Member State – and to establish a central system for the allocation of responsibility for any persons seeking asylum in the Union; suggestconsiders that such a system could provide for certain relative thresholds per Member State, above which no further allocation of responsibility could be made until all other Member Statefunction on the basis of a number of Union ‘hotspots’ from where Union distribution should principally take place; Considers thave met their own thresholds,t the same rules which cwould conceivably help in deterring secondary movements,apply for distribution for asn all Member States would be fully involvpplication submitted in a hot spot should be applied inf the centralised system anasylum seeker has travelled nto longer have individual responsibility for allocation of applicants to other Member States; believea country where there are no hot spots in order to submit his or her application; considers thus that suchan a system could function on the basis of a number of Union ‘hotspots’ from where Union distribution should take placelum seeker should not be able to affect the chances of a particular Member State examining his or her application by travelling there in order to submit the application; underlines that any new system for allocation of responsibility must incorporate the key concepts of family unity and the best interests of the child;
Amendment 602 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35a. Considers that a transitional period should be introduced in the system to distribute asylum seekers between Member States in order to give Member States that have not historically been the primary destinations for asylum seekers a chance to ensure good standards with regards to inter alia reception facilities and administrative capacities related to the provision of asylum procedures with full respect of European and international law; Suggests that such a transitional period should imply that these countries would gradually take on the full responsibility for receiving asylum seekers foreseen by the repartition key;
Amendment 659 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 a (new)
Paragraph 40 a (new)
40 a. Notes that an inclusive society should be built with the participation of all the actors involved in that society and therefore suggests that even though integration is a competence of the Member States the exchange of best practices in the field of integration is strengthened, inter alia through the creation of a network for the sharing of best practices and relevant data at the local level;
Amendment 660 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 b (new)
Paragraph 40 b (new)
40 b. Calls on the European Commission to organise an annual Structured Dialogue on Integration together with the European Committee of the Regions with a view to draw up, review, and update guidelines for local and regional authorities across the continent in order to ensure smooth integration;
Amendment 661 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 c (new)
Paragraph 40 c (new)
40 c. Underlines that integration can be enhanced through reception policies for asylum-seekers which promote social inclusion, rather than isolation and separation from host communities; recalls the key role local and regional authorities play in this regard, and thus, calls on Member States to resource local and regional authorities appropriately according to their needs and to allow for their contribution to sharing best practices at EU level;
Amendment 662 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 d (new)
Paragraph 40 d (new)
40 d. Considers that language, accommodation and employment are vital for integration; Considers therefore that language training should be provided upon commencement of the asylum procedure, unless it is reasonably foreseen that the asylum-seeker will stay in the country for a period not exceeding a few weeks, as it facilitates the active participation of children in school, is important for accessing employment in the host country and may also be a valuable additional asset upon return home;
Amendment 663 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40 e (new)
Paragraph 40 e (new)
40 e. Underlines the large number of minors among the migrants; insists on the importance of ensuring a maximum level of continuity in their schooling when arriving on the European territory; recalls that this constitutes a vital condition for their wellbeing and their integration in their new environment;
Amendment 746 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Understands that the safe return of those people who, following an individual assessment of their asylum application, are determined not to be eligible for protection in the Union is something that must be carried out as part of the proper implementation of the CEAS; in this regard, welcomes the EU action plan on returns;
Amendment 756 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49
Paragraph 49
49. Acknowledges that, in the light of the fact that, in 2014, only 36 % of third country nationals who were ordered to leave the Union were effectively returned, there is a need to improve the effectiveness of the Union’s return system; Considers that in order to ensure a better execution of return decisions they should as far as possible be conducted at a European level with operational assistance provided by Frontex;
Amendment 762 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 49 a (new)
Paragraph 49 a (new)
49 a. Considers that in order to increase the efficiency of readmissions, and in order to ensure the coherence of returns at a European level, it will be necessary to favour European readmission agreements over bilateral agreements between Member States and third countries; considers that the conclusion and implementation of those agreements will require high level political dialogues and conditional development funding to support the reintegration of returnees in their countries of origin;
Amendment 774 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Believes that the return of migrants should only be carried out safely, in full compliance with the fundamental and procedural rights of the migrants in question, and where the country to which they are being returned is safe for them; reiterates, in that regard, that voluntary return should be prioritised over forced returns; Believes that where forced returns take place, all the Member states need to perform an effective return monitoring according to Art.8 (6) of the Return Directive;
Amendment 780 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)
Paragraph 50 a (new)
50 a. Notes that there is no EU policy or legal framework protecting the basic rights of persons who are not removed; regrets that the safeguards set forth in article 14(1) of the Return Directive for non-removed persons do not cover all rights and apply only if removal is formally postponed; calls on EU institutions and Member States to address the situation of migrants in an irregular situation who have been given a return decision but who have not been removed and to provide for a mechanism to put an end to situations of legal limbo that derive from protracted situations of non- removability;
Amendment 803 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Acknowledges that the main purpose of the recent Commission proposal for a Union list of safe countries of origin, amending the Asylum Procedures Directive13 is to more efficiently distinguish migrants who are in clear need of international protection and therefore more likely to succeed in their asylum applications from those who are leaving their country for other reasons which do not fall under the right of asylum; observes that if such a Union list would become obligatory for Member States it could, in principle, be an important tool for facilitating the asylum process, including return; __________________ 13 Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection (OJ L180, 29.6.2013, p. 60).
Amendment 807 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)
Paragraph 52 a (new)
52 a. Considers that for the establishment of a European list of safe countries of origin to effectively meets its objectives and arrive at a faster treatment of asylum requests, it would be appropriate to revise the asylum procedures directive in order to harmonise the procedural deadlines of the accelerated procedures between different Member States.
Amendment 819 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53 a. Considers that the establishment of a list of safe countries of origin of the Union should progressively put an end to national lists of safe countries of origin, except with regards to exceptional cases encountered by a Member State.
Amendment 871 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Understands thatWelcomes the recently proposed European Border and Coast Guard is intended to replace Frontex and which is meant to ensure a European integrated border management at the external borders with a view to managing migration effectively and ensuring a high level of internal security within the Union, while safeguarding the free movement of persons therein; Underlines in that regard that Member States which have a frontline role and external border with third countries, but which are not part of the Schengen area, must also be able to participate and benefit from the establishment of the European Border and Coast Guard on equal footing with the Schengen area Member States;
Amendment 874 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61 a (new)
Paragraph 61 a (new)
61 a. Notes that the capacity of Frontex to deal with possible violations of fundamental rights should be strengthened in the context of expanding its role under EU law; Believes that Frontex should deal with individual complaints regarding infringements of fundamental rights in the course of its operations and should provide adequate administrative support for that purpose; calls on Frontex to set up an appropriate complaints mechanism, including within the framework of its working arrangements concluded with the competent authorities of third countries;
Amendment 885 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 63
Paragraph 63
63. Recalls that, since the establishment of the Schengen Area, the Union is an area without internal borders, that the Schengen Member States have developed a step-by- step common policy towards the Schengen external borders, and that the inherent logic of such a system has always been that the abolishment of internal border controls has to go hand in hand with compensatory measures strengthening the external borders of the Schengen Area and the mandatory and systematic sharing of information through the Schengen Information System (‘SIS’) including on return decisions;
Amendment 931 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 70 a (new)
Paragraph 70 a (new)
70 a. Calls on the Commission to ensure an effective cooperation between these agencies; and ensure that they have concluded operational agreements enabling them to ensure effective, proportionate and justified exchange of data;
Amendment 934 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 71
Paragraph 71
71. Points out, in that regard, that the Union agencies require the resources necessary to allow them to fulfil their assigned tasks; calls on the Commission to provide updated and consolidated information on the needs of the agencies; asks the Commission to propose a medium and long term strategy regarding the actions of the agencies in the field of justice and home affairs: objectives, tasks, coordination, Hotspots and financial resources; insists that the Union agencies and the Member States keep the Parliament fully informed of work undertaken at the hotspots;
Amendment 941 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 72
Paragraph 72
72. Notes that both of the Relocation Decisions provide for operational support at the hotspots to be provided to Italy and Greece for the screening and fingerprinting of migrants when they first arrive, registration of their application for international protection, provision of information to applicants on relocation, organisation of return operations for those who did not apply for international protection and are not otherwise entitled to remain or those who applied unsuccessfully, and the facilitation of all steps involved in the relocation procedure itself;
Amendment 962 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 74
Paragraph 74
74. Recognises that one of the main purposes of hotspots is to allow the Union to grant protection and humanitarian assistance in a swift manner to those in need; emphasises that great care needs to be taken to ensure that the categorising of migrants at hotspots is carried out in full respect for the fundamental rights of all migrants in cooperation with the relevant agencies and national Human Rights institutions; acknowledges, however, that proper identification of applicants for international protection at the point of first arrival in the Union should help facilitate the overall functioning of any reformed CEAS;
Amendment 980 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 77
Paragraph 77
77. Notes thatCalls on the Commission is considering a revision ofto revise Council Directive 2002/90/EC defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence; takes the view that anyone who provides different forms of humanitarian assistance to those in need should not be criminalised and that Union law should reflect that principle; notes that some of the Facilitation directive´s provisions, including the definition of "facilitation of stay" creates divergences and grey areas which are deterring humanitarian actors from providing assistance;
Amendment 1073 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 89
Paragraph 89
89. Reaffirms that the Union must adopt a long-term strategy to help counteract the ‘push factors’ in third countries (persecution, conflict, generalised violence or extreme poverty), which force people into the hands of criminal smuggling networks, which they see as their only chance to reach the Union; Underlines that this work should be done with the inclusion of NGOs and civil society organisations working in the field;
Amendment 1094 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 92
Paragraph 92
92. Understands that, in the long term, greater impetus is needed in solving the geo-political issues that affect the root causes of migration, as war, poverty, corruption, hunger and a lack of opportunities means that people will still feel forced to flee to Europe unless Europe looks at how to help re-build those countries; points out that this means that the Commission and the Member States must put up the money to help build capacity in third countries, such as by facilitating investment and education, strengthening and enforcing asylum systems, helping to manage borders better, and reinforcing legal and judicial systems there; calls therefore on Member States to achieve the level of 0.7% of GNI in development assistance as soon as possible;
Amendment 1106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94
Paragraph 94
94. WelcomNotes the recently established Emergency Trust Fund for Africasetting-up of the Union Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis and of the EUR 1.8 billion pledged to the fundmergency Trust Fund for Africa, which has added an additional element to third- country funding; calls onurges the Member States to continue contributing to the fundstand by their promises and contribute to these funds; reminds that the above funds were created in response to the lack of flexibility and funding in the EU budget;
Amendment 1110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 94 a (new)
Paragraph 94 a (new)
94a. Calls on each Member State to take on its share in the package of the EUR 3 billion Refugee Facility for Turkey; raises however the question of how the Union contribution should be made available within the respective ceilings of the Union budget for 2016 and 2017;
Amendment 1120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 96
Paragraph 96
96. Notes that the Union’s migration policy is implemented through different policy instruments, each having its own objectives, which are not necessarily interlinked, and that there is insufficient coordination of funding between the multiple actors involved; points out that the fragmentation of budget lines and responsibilities creates a management structure that could make it difficult to provide a comprehensive overview on how the different funds available are allocated and ultimately used; considers it essential to keep a close eye on the use made of all funding related to immigration, in particular with regard to contracting and subcontracting procedures, in view of a number of instances of fraud and mismanagement that have occurred in the Member States; points out, furthermore, that such fragmentation makes it harder to quantify how much the Union spends overall on migration policy;
Amendment 1126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 97
Paragraph 97
97. Is of the opinion that such a comprehensive overview of Union funding related to migration, both within and outside the Union must be provided, as the absence of such an overview is a clear obstacle to transparency and sound policymaking; notes, in that regard, that one possible option could be a website or an annual report comprising a database of all Union funded projects related to migration policy; underlines that the need for transparency also extends to budget lines in order to ensure adequate funding for all objectives of Union migration policy;
Amendment 1134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 98
Paragraph 98
98. Welcomes the additional funding made available in the Union’s budget for 2016 to start to deal with the current migration phenomenamobilisation of significant budgetary means spread over 2015 and 2016 to address the migration and refugee crisis; pPoints out that most of that new funding represents funding under the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework ('MFF), which has been brought forward, with the result that the Union is spending toda') and that the whole available envelop for the flexibility instrument in 2016 and the entirety of its 2014 and 2015 unused portions were mobilised for this purpose; highlights accordingly wthat was intended to be spent tomorrowlonger-term solutions should be sought, not only in the annual budgetary procedure, but also in the upcoming mid-term revision of the MFF;
Amendment 1135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 99 a (new)
Paragraph 99 a (new)
99a. Calls on the Commission to provide as accurate an assessment as possible of the appropriations needed for the AMIF over the period to 2020 and, on that basis, to present a proposal for an increase in the heading 3 appropriations and, if necessary, an adjusted allocation among the various implementing programmes in the context of the revision of the multiannual financial framework, due by the end of 2016; stresses also the need for such funding to have genuine European added value rather than simply supporting existing national programmes;
Amendment 1146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 102
Paragraph 102
102. Points out that securing operational funding is a key challenge for NGOs as most funding is project-related; affirms that volunteer and civil-society initiatives dedicated to providing assistance to migrants should be promoted and, where appropriate, funded by the Commission and the Member States; calls on the Member States and the Commission to seek, where appropriate and possible, to fund projects managed by civil society organisations working in the areas of migration, integration and asylum; draws in this respect the attention to the positive role that projects intended to increase the understanding of the public with regards to migratory flows and in particular the positive impact that migrants can have on the economy and their new environment;
Amendment 1200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 111 a (new)
Paragraph 111 a (new)
111a. Underlines that the policy of the European Union in the area of legal economic migration should in no case be based on a brain drain from developing countries; recalls that such a phenomena would deprive these countries of the talents which are necessary for their development; is of the opinion that migratory flows can play a positive role for development and that it is necessary to promote circular migration in order to allow these persons to also be actors for development within their countries of origin;
Amendment 1212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 113 a (new)
Paragraph 113 a (new)
113a. Calls on the Commission, on the basis of an assessment report, to formulate recommendations to improve Eurosur;