Debate: Migration situation at the Greek-Turkish border and the EU's common response to it
Date: TUESDAY, 10 MARCH 2020
Speaker: Ylva Johansson
Language: EN

It is absolutely necessary that we, the European Union, protect our external borders, but it’s also absolutely necessary that we defend our fundamental rights and values, including the right to asylum. It’s our legal and moral duty to do both and I can hear sometimes in the debate that there should be a contradiction between the these two, and that’s not true. It’s absolutely possible both to defend our external borders – of course it’s not Turkey that decides about the EU’s external borders – but it is also possible to combine this with the right to asylum and to stand up for fundamental human rights and for our values.  I think that our most urgent concern is people, human beings. We need to support and protect people who are, right now, living under unacceptable conditions. In this situation, there are three things that we need to deliver at a European level. First, as I mentioned, support for people. We have a lot of people who are already in a difficult situation, who have been brought to the border under false pretences and are now in a very difficult situation. Even worse, I should say, is the situation for people on the islands, on the Greek islands, people in  Second, support for Greece of course. Greece manages entry at our common EU border, and we are now facing politically-motivated pressure at the European external border. It’s necessary that we support Greece, and we are supporting Greece, and we are now taking urgent measures in all these areas. And third, of course we must share responsibilities for supporting Syrian refugees, also in Turkey.  As you all know, last week the Presidents of the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council and the Commission visited the Greek-Turkish and Bulgarian-Turkish borders, stressing our unity, commitment and solidarity. Last week also, the Commission presented an action plan on measures to be taken by the Union and the Member States together to provide critical support to Greece. As a result, together with the Member States and our agencies, we agreed on a number of concrete steps.  First, we agreed to support Greece and other countries to handle this situation, to protect our external borders and support people. Greece is obliged to protect its borders and the EU external borders, but it also has to do this with proportionate measures. With the launch of two rapid border intervention operations by the European Border and Coast Guard at the land and sea borders between Greece and Turkey, an additional 100 border guards will be deployed as well as assets like helicopters and boats. Frontex stands ready to coordinate a new programme for the quick return of irregular migrants from Greece to countries of origin.  The European Asylum Support Office is also ready to accelerate the deployment of experts to support in Greece. At the request of Greece, the Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated; 16 Member States have so far pledged support to Greece. That, I think, is European solidarity in action and in action quite quickly. Member States are assisting Greece by sending medical equipment, medical teams, shelters, tents, blankets, and a lot of other items that are needed.  We also need to give financial support. The Commission will immediately make available EUR 350 million with a possibility to increase this by another 350 million through an amending budget, and this will be used to increase the reception capacity and the living conditions for the migrants on the islands and on the mainland. It will be used to support the provision of services such as healthcare, food provision and transportation, to support the Greek asylum service, and to strengthen the ongoing voluntary return programme.  Tomorrow evening I will go to Greece and on Thursday I will meet with the Greek Minister and the authorities to discuss how we should implement this action plan, and of course I will also ask the Greek Government how they will act now to make sure that they comply with EU law and the right to asylum, and also with the principle of  Second, our relationship with Turkey. The EU-Turkish statement remains valid. We must continue our dialogue, we must de-escalate the rhetoric and decrease the tension. That involves finding a path forward with Turkey.  The lines of communication with Turkey remain open and active. With Turkey, we share a joint responsibility for refugees and a joint commitment to the statement. That is why we’re continuing a constructive engagement. As you all know, yesterday evening President von der Leyen and President Michel had a constructive dialogue with President Erdoğan. The two Presidents expressed very clearly to President Erdoğan their commitment to move forward with a perspective for migrants and stability in the region. On our side we are delivering on our commitments in the EU—Turkey statement by having provided safe and legal pathways to Europe for over 26 500 Syrian refugees, and by supporting schools, healthcare and basic services for Syrian refugees in Turkey.  We must relieve the pressure that has been brought on the border, and the main way to do that is, of course, a dialogue together with Turkey, but we also must ensure that the right to asylum is respected.  To conclude, let me say that the situation at the European external border towards Turkey is worrying, but I also must say that this is not 2015. We are much better prepared now to manage the situation because we know better what to expect. We have reinforced our agencies, we have strengthened, we now have Frontex, we have the European Asylum Support Office. We have more willingness to cooperate between Member States and we have stronger structures between the Member States. That’s why it is possible for the European Union to react so quickly in support to Greece and to the external borders of the European Union.  But let me also say that, even if we are much better prepared in 2015, we are not well prepared enough, and what we are lacking is a common European migration and asylum system. This is really a problem for us and this has been my task since I took office. I have had constructive dialogues with all the 27 Member States and a lot of dialogues here in this Parliament on this topic to find a compromise forward for a common approach so that we together will be better prepared to face migration and asylum together in the European Union.  And I must say that these dialogues have been constructive. We all know it’s a difficult task, of course, but at least I’m more optimistic now than before I started the dialogues and I’m preparing now the proposals and you can expect them to be presented after Easter.  Let me conclude with one aspect; I think I share it with many of you. It is the situation for children and maybe especially those that are without their parents – unaccompanied children, minors, teenagers. One third of all children arrive in Greece without parents or family, around 5 500 children and teenagers in total according to Europol; 10% are younger than 14 years old. They face violence, abuse and exploitation.  Many of them just disappear from their asylum reception centres and we don’t know where they are. I’m afraid that many of them fall into the hands of criminals. Sometimes the same criminals who traffic migrants also traffic people for sexual exploitation. Just imagine being a 15-year-old, fleeing, searching for a better life. Imagine how afraid you would be alone under these circumstances and at risk of being a victim for abuse and trafficking.  My mission, together with the Greek Government, is to put in place a process to protect and care for these vulnerable children and teenagers. I want to find solutions that will help unaccompanied migrant minors, in particular on the Greek islands, with relocation to other Member States, with medical aid, with housing, with safety, protecting them from being victims of trafficking.  On Thursday, I will be in Greece together with President von der Leyen. This is the aim of our purpose: to continue or to develop new ways to protect these unaccompanied minors. I call on all Member States to help these children and these youngsters and to welcome them. That’s the spirit of solidarity we need that will see us through these difficult times.