Speaking at the EPP Political Assembly that took place at the European Committee of the Regions, President of the EPP/CoR Group Michael Schneider underlined a need for solidarity with migrants and the sharing of responsibility across Europe:
"The EPP/CoR Group has extensively debated the problem of migration at CoR's plenary session in July, concentrating primarily on the humanitarian aspects. However, the situation has escalated since. Increased migration waves especially affect our European municipalities and regions responsible for integration of migrants, for providing housing, education and food. In order to secure willingness of both local authorities and local communities to keep welcoming these people with the highest of standards, we need urgent progress on the fair distribution of migrants across the EU. Imbalanced policies in that respect across Europe are a threat to European values that may be jeopardised in those areas carrying the heaviest burden."
Michael Schneider also expressed his hopes that the European Commission would take quick steps in order to identify and update the list of the safe countries of origin, which should help facilitate the asylum seeking process in Europe. Furthermore, he called for actions towards better safeguarding of the European external borders and appealed to his colleagues from across Europe for a fair share of burdens related to the migration crisis among the EU in the spirit of solidarity.
President Schneider also took the opportunity to share with the EPP family upcoming events organised by the EPP Group in the European Committee of the Regions:
- The Study Visit dedicated to Digital and Entrepreneurial Skills, an important topic for the EPP and organised in cooperation with European Democratic Students which will take place on 21st September 2015.
- The cities-of-the-future-programme on the Cities of the future on the challenges lying ahead of municipalities in Europe – which will take place on the 14th October 2015.
- brochure on "Making EU Investments Work in Regions and Cities" alongside the EPP Statutory Congress in Madrid on the 21st October 2015.