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In the hot seat
This weekend, we are joined by the Irish Senator Mark Duffy, the Spanish/Dutch MEP Raquel García Hermida van der Walle and the French MEP Fabrice Leggeri.
Dutch Government Collapse
The panel discuss how the Dutch government collapsed due to internal tensions within the coalition over migration policy and squabbles surrounding a 10-point anti-migration plan pushed by far-right politicians Geert Wilders.
Raquel García Hermida van der Walle said Wilders could not govern.
“He has done what he has been doing for the last 20 years, which is using migration as an excuse to hide his own party’s or his own ministers’ incompetence and inability to deliver on the promises that they made to citizens”, she said.
Fresh elections will take place in October.
Ukrainians Refugees in the EU
The panel also discussed the millions of Ukrainians that live in the European Union today, three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Thanks to the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, they were given residency, access to healthcare and education.
This week, at an EU Council meeting in Luxembourg, the 27 countries voiced their support for a proposal to extend the temporary protection for the more than 4 million Ukrainians until 4 March 2027.
“It’s a good example of what refugees, real refugees, are or should be”, Fabrice Leggeri said.
Housing in the EU – Prices through the roof?
Finally, the panel reflected on the acute housing crisis across Europe. According to Eurostat, house prices have gone up by 48% in the EU. In Ireland and Lithuania, it is even worse. Mayors from all across the board this week called for urgent EU action and a coordinated housing strategy.
Senator Mark Duffy from the West of Ireland said any support ‘from Europe’ was very much welcome.
“The regeneration grants were backed and supported by Brussels, and that has been a very positive intervention and if we can replicate that in other areas to increase supply, then that is only a net gain for everyone who is looking to solve this problem”, he said.
Watch “Brussels, my love?” in the player above.
