European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, in charge of Promoting the European Way of Life, launched a tour of the capitals on Thursday 5 December in Athens in support of the future European Pact on Asylum and Migration. As they announced on 2 December, at the EU Council of Interior Ministers (see EUROPE 12381/4), they will continue their trip to Ankara on 6 December.
This first trip to Greece was intended to allow the two officials to discuss directly with Greek officials the situation “on the ground”, explained the Commissioner on her Twitter account, adding that “Greek challenges are European challenges”.
The situation in Greece, once overshadowed by discussions on temporary disembarkation of migrants in Italian or Maltese ports (Malta agreement), has worsened in recent months, with increasing arrivals from Turkey and appalling living conditions in camps on the Greek islands.
Several shortcomings in relation to the March 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkey have been identified, including the return of asylum seekers to Turkey.
On Monday 2 December, the Greek government also put forward its new ideas on the subject and circulated a concept paper to its European counterparts.
In particular, this document indicates the need for a “European return mechanism”, while “the return rate is far from satisfactory” (36% of annual return decisions issued in the EU are made, on average), despite “the constant efforts of the Member States, the European Commission and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency”. A first step in this direction would therefore be to set up a common European return mechanism (CERM), the Greek government writes.
The aim will be to combine “existing tools/practices/policies/legislations, maximising their potential, while allowing effective monitoring of progress on returns”, but without creating new bodies or legislation.
On Monday, a diplomatic source from another Member State explained that more diplomatic efforts could be made by larger Member States with a larger network of embassies or consulates in non-Member States to press for the takeover by these countries of their nationals.
In the Greek document, this improved return action would be based on the renewed mandate of Frontex (whose new status entered into force on 4 December) and its future staff of 10,000 by 2027.
However, apart from visa policy, Greece is also considering the use of negative and positive pressure levers and incentives. Trade relations can also be used as a lever. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)