Migration: President von der Leyen calls for a system that manages migration in the long term, fully grounded in European values

This morning, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, gave a keynote speech at the Interparliamentary Conference on Migration and Asylum, hosted by the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, and the President of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble, via videoconference. Speaking at the conference today, President von der Leyen recalled that “migration has always been a fact for Europe – and it always will be”, and that it “enriches our societies, it brings new talent to our countries, when well managed”. However, the European Union still faces many challenges: “The current system no longer works. Our New Pact on Migration and Asylum offers a fresh start.” The President underlined the importance “for the EU to build a system that manages migration in the long term and which is fully grounded in European values”, set out in the new Pact on Migration and Asylum the Commission put forward in September this year. To find a “sustainable solution”, President von der Leyen urged all parties involved – national Parliaments, the European Parliament and national governments – to work together to acknowledge and overcome existing differences. She also reiterated the need to show solidarity to the Member States on the EU’s external borders whose concerns need to be heard and discussed. You can watch the President’s speech back here, and read the full keynote speech online. Find more information on EU migration policy here.