Debate: Humanitarian situation of refugees and migrants at the EU's external borders
Date: TUESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2021
Speaker: Ana Paula Zacarias
Language: EN

Our Presidency is closely monitoring the situation on all migratory routes and we will continue to do so throughout the semester. In 2020 the total number of illegal border crossings at the EU external borders was estimated as 97 000, at the lowest level in seven years. However, while the eastern Mediterranean route saw a very significant decrease of nearly 80%, arrivals on the central Mediterranean route increased 145%, and overall arrivals in Spain also increased 29% compared to 2019.  I would like to touch upon developments in Greece, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Libya and in the Canary Islands. In January and February last year high numbers of migrants arrived in Greece, creating very difficult conditions of overcrowding the islands, in particular the island of Lesbos. The number of migrants present on the islands reached a peak of more than 40 000 people. The Greek authorities undertook many efforts to strengthen the border controls after the unrest, equal efforts were also made to improve the reception conditions which suffered from the overcrowding of the camps. The arrival of the COVID-19 crisis and the fire in the Moria camp in September only exacerbated the situation, calling for immediate action.  Some improvements have been made. The number of migrants in the centre of the island is now approximately 15 000 people. EU funding is in place. More permanent reception structures are in the pipeline and a joint task force has been established to ensure adequate living conditions and faster procedures. The situation remains volatile in this region of the world. The political climate between the EU and our neighbour Turkey plays a significant role in the stability of the region and hence on the arrival of migrants, and we need to continue monitoring the situation quite closely. During the next six months, we will continue to devote also much attention to the migratory situation in the Western Balkans region, in particular in Bosnia-Herzegovina where around 5 800 migrants and refugees are currently present, mainly in the north west.  Following strong advocacy by a number of actors, including the EU and humanitarian agencies, we note that the local authorities are making considerable efforts to address the situation, and have now identified an interim solution for some 900 individuals in dire conditions at the Lipa site. However, no long-term solution has been identified. We will need to continue to support the authorities but also urge them to provide better reception conditions and efficient services, including access to the asylum procedures for people in need of international protection. Regarding the central Mediterranean route, conditions for migrants in Libya continue to be dire. To alleviate the suffering of migrants and refugees in urban settings or in detention centres in Libya, the EU and individual Member States have funded projects via the EU Trust fund for Africa, our implementing partners UNHCR and IOM continue to do a very important work. This includes also the IOM programme for voluntary returns of countries of origin, which has resumed after a long break due to the COVID crisis. The same applies for the work of the UNHCR to evacuate detained persons of concern to either Niger or Rwanda, with a view to resettlement in the EU or other receiving countries.  Let me also mention the situation in the Canary Islands, where thousands of irregular migrants arrived in October and November in huge numbers, overwhelming for a period the capacity of the authorities to register, identify and accommodate them. The migrants, half of whom are Moroccan and half of whom are sub-Saharan, come from sub-Saharan countries, arrived in small boats and were rescued at sea. The influx led to the deployment of the Frontex officers to assist in the first registration and in the notification procedures. A contract was signed with EASO to also assist in improving reception capacities, and we strongly encourage the operational and technical support by EU agencies in front line Member States.  I would like to stress that the humanitarian situation at our external borders is a cause of great concern that needs our attention and more needs to be done, and I trust the Commissioner would also elaborate on the comprehensive assistance that the EU is providing at our external borders to improve the situation.  But before I finish, honourable Members, I would like to say that the Presidency is committed to finding better solutions as regards migration and refugee flows. We will give priority to the new pact and migration and asylum and the initiatives that it contains, aiming to establish a common migration management mechanism that is effective, resilient and reliable and safeguards human rights, based on a fair sharing of efforts and obligations. And we are committed to achieving results on the basis of the Commission’s last package of proposals. And I say we will foster the deepening of the partnerships between the EU and the countries of origin and transit, including through constructive dialogue and the development of a policy to promote legal migration channels.  This is a sustainable alternative and takes into account the objective of integrating migrants, especially unaccompanied minors. We will also aim to implement the Valletta Declaration and its action plan together with the accompanying regional dialogue and to follow up on the global compacts for migration and refugees, and in this context we intend to organise in Lisbon a ministerial conference on migration flows. Honourable Members, I remain at your disposal and I will listen carefully to your views on this difficult matter.