During the Committee of the Regions plenary session, Mr Jerzy Zajakała (Mayor of Łubianka in Poland, Vice-President of the ECR Group) expressed deep sorrow due to the recent tragic events in the Mediterranean Sea.

 Mr Zajakała called for the legal distinction between economic migration and asylum and refuge to be respected. "Seeking asylum and refuge is something completely different to economic migration. The two areas require different approaches and solutions," said Mr Zajakala.

 During the Committee of the Regions 'plenary session, Mr Zajakała underlined that local and regional authorities need to be able to share the challenges they face within the EU while working at the local and regional level to assist Member States in addressing the root cause of the tragedies. Mr Zajakała emphasised, however, that the CoR should contribute to the debate where it has expertise only.

 Mr Zajakala explained that "some of the local and regional authorities are struggling to cope with the surge in the number of people trying to enter the EU illegally through the Mediterranean Sea. They should share and voice their experiences. However, most importantly, we must make full use of our local and regional platforms with the EUs Southern neighbourhood such as the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly, to look local and regional governments can help prevent human trafficking, smuggling and criminal Groups and how we can help in encouraging stability and peace in the EUs neighbouring regions."

 "The ECR Group position on issues relating to Justice and Home Affairs is clear", stated ECR Group President Gordon Keymer (Leader of Tandridge District Council). "The CoR should not be commenting on issues, such as visa regimes and security budgets, which are not a local or regional competence and therefore not areas in which we have expertise."

 According to UNHCR data, more than 26,000 migrants have entered Italy alone in the first four months of 2015. Although this number does not differ substantially from the corresponding period in 2014, many more people have lost their lives in the sea this year. Member States responded in the Council with calls for increased emphasis on tackling root causes of migration, including fostered cooperation with third countries and providing additional funds for EU operations, while the European Commission tabled a proposal to create a temporary resettlement scheme for migrants. The ECR Group advocates a "firm but fair" approach to migration – Member States should try to cooperate in protecting Europe's borders and offer help to those who are in real need of protection.