Adeline Hazan (PSE). – (FR) Mr President, I believe that we are now at a key moment when it comes to the future of European immigration policy, a moment of truth in which every man and woman needs clearly to perceive what is at stake.

What, precisely, is Europe’s response to these challenges? At present, it is –it has to be said – a mixture of compassion and repression that offers no real solution to the recognised need for protection. Let us be aware in this House of the dangers of disposable immigration in which the migrant is seen only in a utilitarian perspective. Hypocrisy has prevailed since the first Tampere European Council, which was ultimately supposed to make it possible for asylum and immigration policies to be communitised.

We are now seeing our responsibilities assumed instead by our southern Mediterranean neighbours, who have a lot of difficulty in taking on this very heavy burden. How, then, is it possible to believe that we shall be able to stem these migratory flows at a time when, in addition, the future arrival of refugees from climate change is already being foreseen?

We need finally to leave behind short-term politics and to support policies that require action to be taken.

(The President cut off the speaker)