Roberta METSOLA, EP President participates to the signature of a joint roadmap on the Common EU Asylum System and the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, at the European Council in Brussels. Extracts from her statement and from the signing ceremony.

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

signature

president's agenda

new pact on asylum and migration (T)

Signature of a joint roadmap on the Common EU Asylum System and the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and extracts from the signing ceremony

Title: Signature of a joint roadmap on the Common EU Asylum System and the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President and extracts from the signing ceremony

External views of the European Council (2 shots)

Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

Juan Fernando L&Oacute;PEZ AGUILAR (S&amp;D,ES)

Ambiance shot before the start of the meeting

SOUNDBITE (English), Edita HRDA, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU, Madam President, the floor is yours

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, Thank you so much. Dear Ambassadors, dear Edita, dear Commissioner, dear Ambassadors, dear colleagues. Today is an important day for the European Union. After months, I think I should say, years of discussion, exchanges and difficult negotiations, the European Parliament and the five rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union are committing themselves as co-legislators as partners to finalize the reform of the asylum and migration legislative framework before the end of the 2019 2024 legislative period. I know there is no quick fix to migration. Negotiations will be difficult and lengthy, but delaying these difficult decisions is not an option, and solutions can and will be found.[56.0]

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, EP President, Migration has been one of the greatest challenges of our generation for far too long. It has been apparent that Member States cannot address this issue alone, and yet for years we chose to paper over the cracks without taking the tough decisions necessary to deal with the issue long term

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, So this roadmap today is a clear sign that we can do it, and I am sure we can.

Signature by the European Parliament - Roberta Metsola, EP President, Juan Fernando L&Oacute;PEZ AGUILAR (S&amp;D,ES) and Elena YONCHEVA (S&amp;D,BG); by Edita HRDA, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU and by Representatives of the 5 rotating Presidency (5 shots)