Brussels, 28/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 26 October, in Luxembourg, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström called on Greece to take urgent measures to address the humanitarian situation of migrants at the border with Turkey, especially in the River Evros area, which is one of the main points of entry for illegal immigration into the EU. The commissioner's address came after EU home ministers had been briefed during the day of the state of progress of reform in the Greek asylum system. Despite “some progress”, Malmström deplored the fact that a series of points still remained problematical.
In January 2011, the European Court of Human Rights found Greece guilty of hosting asylum seekers and illegal migrants in degrading conditions. Greece had pledged to conduct a series of reforms.
Progress includes continued legislative work, the creation of a support unit for asylum requests and an increased number of favourable answers to asylum requests, a source indicates, with Greece being the country that refuses the most asylum applications. Greece has also set in place an authority responsible for oversight of migrants as they arrive.
Greece is, however, far from doing what it should. It should create more hosting structures and centres for migrants, among other things. The Commission has made funding available for Athens so that the country may initiate construction programmes, adding that it is willing to make more funds available. According to a source familiar with the dossier, however, “construction is behind schedule”, taking longer than expected.
Furthermore, in the middle of the fiscal crisis, Greece is unable to “absorb” European funds earmarked for improving its asylum system. “Greece is unable to use European funds”, a diplomatic source from one of the large countries said with annoyance, evoking organisational problems in Greece. He went on to say: “As things stand, Greece is not keeping to its word” and “the tone of discussion is very negative”. Ministers also noted that the situation in Greece regarding the arrival of illegal migrants had also worsened to become extremely challenging, despite the many operations conducted by the Frontex agency.
Early in October, a Frontex report highlights the fact that the number of migrant arrivals via the Greek-Turkish border has risen. Numbers detected during the first half of 2011 have increased to the mid-2010 level, with 11,000 entries counted.
This increase in arrival numbers gives some member states great cause for concern, a diplomatic source states, wondering whether Athens has “sufficient resolve” to tackle the problem. (SP/transl.jl)