On Tuesday, 10 March, a number of MEPs called on EU Member States to show solidarity with the migrants and refugees at the Greek-Turkish border and in the Greek islands.
While discordant voices were also raised in the Chamber (particularly among the ranks of the far right) during the debate on the Greek-Turkish crisis that erupted in late February, these MEPs - not only from the Greens/EFA but also from the S&D, GUE/NGL, and Renew Europe - called on the Twenty-Seven to welcome these people and finalise the Common European Asylum System.
Dutch MEP Sophie in 't Veld (Renew Europe) lamented that heads of state “have done nothing in the last four years” for this asylum system. “And now, cornered by [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan, they are shedding crocodile tears”, decried the liberal, who called on the EU to take advantage of this crisis “to be better”, both by relocating these people and renegotiating an agreement with the Turkish president that would be governed “by European law and the European Parliament”.
With 20,000 people reportedly at the border between Greece and Turkey and almost 40,000 already on the Greek islands, political groups such as that of Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) have also urged the Twenty-Seven to relocate these people among the Member States “if we want to make a serious policy”.
The MEP lamented the fact that the EU “is seeking to defend its borders” rather than asking how to “protect our refugees at our borders and on our islands”.
S&D Group President Iratxe García from Spain called on MEPs to not make political hay out of the situation and to look after refugees, the “vulnerable” people seeking a solution.
She was specifically reacting to comments by EPP leader Manfred Weber who felt that the Greek government of Kyriákos Mitsotákis (EPP) was now managing the Greek borders well, unlike the government of Alexis Tsipras (GUE/NGL).
Speaking at the beginning of the debate, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson emphasised that the situation was “serious” and “urgent”.
The EU must “protect its external borders; that is essential. But it is just as essential to defend its values, including the right to asylum”, she responded, while Athens has suspended the submission of applications for asylum for a month. It is also “possible to do both”.
She revisited the issue of young migrant children on the Greek islands, half of whom are “under 14 years of age”. “Many young people disappear” and fall into criminal networks and sometimes sexual exploitation.
The commissioner urged, “I am calling on all Member States” to welcome them, even though five Member States are currently committed to receiving between 1,000 and 1,500 minors on their territory, out of the 5,000 on the Greek islands. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)