The Secretary-General addressed the Plenary of the European Parliament yesterday and subsequently met with H.E. Mr. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament.

The Secretary-General and President Schulz welcomed the European Commission proposal on migration, including the relocation of 40,000 asylum-seekers, as a step in the right direction and expressed hope it would be accepted by the EU Member States.

The Secretary-General and Mr. Schulz also deplored the scourge of terrorism and the Secretary-General informed of his intention to submit an action plan on countering violent extremism to the General Assembly in the fall.  The Secretary-General welcomed the readiness of the European Parliament to cooperate on this issue with the UN.

The Secretary-General thanked President Schulz for the EU's leadership in promoting human rights and sustainable development.  They agreed that parliaments have a critical role to play in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.