Luxemburg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Assleborn, attended an informal meeting of Social Democratic leaders from throughout the EU on Sunday 12 March in Paris, at which several issues including the current status concerning refugees and the development of new social rights amongst young people were discussed.
The meeting took place in the Elysée Palace in Paris and was attended by the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, who had been invited in as an observer.
On the influx of refugees, the leaders stressed the need for addressing the issue with the respect for keeping European Values intact, while at the same time stating that the focus must be on the protection of external borders and maintaining the Schengen area.
During the discussion of the role of Turkey, Minister Asselborn said "the EU needs to consult with Turkey, but Turkey also needs to consult with the EU; any action must be fully consistent with international law and take into account all aspects of the humanitarian dimension."
The leaders also discussed the possibility of developing a new agenda for jobs as well as a sustainable growth model for Europe. They further considered the development of new social rights, particularly for young people.
Finally, the leaders stressed the urgency to stabilise the euro area and the most fragile countries as well as accelerate the implementation of the Juncker Plan for investment. They also agreed to start a debate on the deepening of the eurozone.
Phto by MFA
