Honourable Members, throughout this speech I have spoken about the need for Europe to act together. Or risk being pulled apart.

Once again this summer, this reality was tested at our borders,

from our eastern borders to the shores of Crete and right across the Mediterranean, and of course, with the crisis in Ceuta. The events may be different in nature. But they have two things in common.

The first thing is that vulnerable people are being exploited by callous traffickers and smugglers,

by our adversaries.

This is why we have proposed a sanctions regime to hit criminals where it hurts most.

The second point, all of our external borders are European borders.

I want to address the people of Spain directly. Ceuta's border is a European border. Because Ceuta is Spain.

Ceuta is Europe, and Europe will be there for you.

The point is that the only solution is a European solution, and that is the pact on migration and asylum.

After years of work, we finally have a common European framework, one that gives responsibilities to all and that demands solidarity from all,

and it now needs to be fully implemented because we are on the right path. Let me give you two figures.

We have seen A 55% reduction in illegal arrivals over the past two years more than halved. And a further 37 drop this year. This is real progress. The events of this show.

Our tools need to evolve, especially for emergency situations.

Europe needs the means to protect its borders at all times.

Especially in scenarios where mass movements are engineered and weaponized.

This is why we will propose a new European Emergency Response instrument.

It will only be triggered under a strictly defined set of criteria.

In those cases, it will allow for a time limited. And strictly defined flexibility of standard procedures.

The message from Europe is clear we will always comply with our values and fundamental rights, but we will never compromise on protecting our borders,

because it's us, Europeans, who decide who comes to our Union and under what circumstances,

and not the smugglers and traffickers.

This is why we are also step up our work to strengthen Frontex, especially to speed up returns.

We will improve our early warning systems, also in partnership with third countries.

We will ensure that we can detect and anticipate online.

Finally, we will keep tackling the root causes of illegal migration.

We need to work together with our neighbors to boost investment,

to offer young people meaningful prospects so they are not compelled to gamble with their lives. They need jobs, skills, training, apprenticeships.

This is why I am announcing today a new Mediterranean Youth Skills and Jobs Initiative.

Honourable Members, this is how we can reduce illegal migration, uphold the rights of individuals seeking protection, facilitate safe,

legal migration with new gateway offices in partner countries and defend the freedoms of our Schengen area.