Debate on illegal migration issue in the EP

Europe's borders have to become more secure by the increase of financial, human and technical resources and the strengthening of FRONTEX. Countries along Europe’s external borders in particular face specific challenges on migration issues. The statistics show that where the older EU Member States have been dealing with the issue for long, the newer ones like Hungary have just begun to confront it. In 2014 the number of persons requesting refugee status in Hungary was nearly 20 times higher than in 2012.
 
Our aim should be to find solutions for Member States especially concerned and effective measures against asylum abuse to put an end to organised crime and human trafficking in order to prevent tragedies along Europe's external borders.
 
There is a difference between those who cross the border illegally because they are fleeing persecution, armed conflict or other hardships and those who enter the EU in search of better living standards. Political asylum seekers merit protection, we have to meet our humanitarian responsibility towards them. However, we have to distinguish refugees from economic illegal migrants. We need a frank debate on the issue as illegal immigration poses a problem today.