Migration in the central Mediterranean debated with Ms Mogherini - Main contents

The need to stabilise the internal situation in Libya and to preserve the EU values, including human rights, were the recurring points raised by MEPs in a Wednesday afternoon debate with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on growing migratory pressure in the central Mediterranean.

Ahead of the of 3 February, during which the 28 EU heads of state or government will discuss the central Mediterranean route and Libya, Ms Mogherini repeated that "refugees must be welcomed. This is a strong position that the EU has and will continue to have".

It is urgently necessary to stabilise the internal situation in Libya and keep working with the migrants’ countries, said some MEPs, while others rejected the possibility of reaching a migration deal with Libya.

They encouraged the EU not to “outsource” its migration policy responsibilities and to focus on human rights and dignity. EU values such as openness, respect, rejection of nationalism and promotion of human decency, should be promoted to prevent Trump’s actions being reproduced in Europe, some MEPs added.

REF. : 20170131IPR60381