The European Parliament debated today President Trump’s executive order on immigration with a statement by the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini that was critical of the move.

Trump issued an executive order temporarily banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries – including Syrian refugees – over the weekend and the move has already sparked worldwide protests.   

Mogherini promised that the EU will not turn away anyone who has the right to international protection but GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer challenged her to go beyond mere words: 

“Trump intentionally announced the executive order on Holocaust Remembrance Day – this was not a mere coincidence. I am afraid this won’t be the last time we will be debating Trump in this Parliament. Europe must counter Trump's policies by acting on its values of human rights and non-discrimination, and by ensuring respect for the Geneva Conventions and international law.”

The German MEP called for a review of the way immigration is dealt with in the EU:

“The EU must have a fair immigration policy – one that is based on mutual solidarity between member states; for people seeking protection instead of looking to demonise migrants and refugees as the roots of all evil. What would have happened to our democracies post-WWII if the refugees had not been given protection? They were the backbone of our societies.”

Zimmer lashed out at President Trump’s bigotry and misogyny and called for solidarity with the masses protesting in the US and worldwide:

“We stand in solidarity with those protesting Trump’s executive orders. It gave me hope to see the hundreds of thousands of women marching following Trump’s inauguration to denounce his intolerance and prejudice towards other human beings.”

“Let us fight Trump´s ideology by working towards stability and international security. That means, amongst other things, American nuclear weapons out of European soil and out of Germany,” Zimmer concluded.