On 30 September 2014, Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member designate of the EC in charge of Migration and Home Affairs, was heard by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Christos Stylianides had the opportunity to make an opening statement, he took part in a question and answer session and made a closing statement. Although the Parliament can only vote on the Commission as a whole, a negative assessment of one of the candidates has in the past already led to the candidacy being withdrawn and replaced.

Brussels

exchange of views

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

SIPPEL, Birgit (S&D, DE)

WIKSTRÖM, Cecilia (ALDE, SE)

GRIESBECK, Nathalie (ALDE, FR)

AVRAMOPOULOS, Dimitris (EL, EC)

hearing

KIRKHOPE, Timothy (ECR, UK)

hearing of Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS (T)

Hearing of Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS (Greece), Commissioner-designate for Migration and Home Affairs: MEPs questions & questions

Title: Hearing of Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Commissioner-designate in charge of Migration and Home Affairs

SOUNDBITE (Maltese), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), <p>"What are you going to do the proper surveillance of the Mediterranean and help save thousands of lives? would you give a concrete commitment to tackle those criminal networks of traffickers that abuse the most vulnerable?"</p>

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Commissioner-designate in charge of Migration and Home Affairs, <p>"Yes of course, we will demand more money and we will help and reinforce FRONTEX and the international cooperation in the Mediterranean area. The countries that face more pressure must be helped, and we should all show more solidarity".</p>

SOUNDBITE (German), Birgit SIPPEL (S&amp;D, DE), "How do you intend to make sure that in all future proposals about exchange of information for purposes of criminal investigation, all rules about protecting human rights are kept in mind?"

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Hearing of Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Commissioner-designate in charge of Migration and Home Affairs, "I will see how and if I can come to you with a new proposal, but what I can quite clearly state is that whatever proposal I bring before you will be based on the protection of fundamental rights of personal data and of course on the principle of proportionality".

SOUNDBITE (English), Timothy KIRKHOPE (ECR, UK), "The threat of ISIS is very clear and very imminent to the security of the EU: does the Commission elect intend to make the fight against foreign fighters and the need for an EU P&amp;R system, as supported by EU leaders in Council, a priority for the upcoming mandate?"

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Hearing of Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Commissioner-designate in charge of Migration and Home Affairs, "This is a very important point, it's a new development, it is an issue that has to do with international terrorism so both the Commission and your Committee will have to deal with it. But, the other part of my competence is security, but security should not lead us to setting up a fortress Europe. Every movement and every initiative should take into account the fundamental rights and our principles"

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia WIKSTR&#214;M (ALDE, SE), "Since there are no legal ways to enter into the EU for asylum seekers, desperate people will continue to get on those boats in desperation. the smugglers will continue to make money and people will continue to die. The only way is to create legal and safe routes to the EU for asylum seekers. So, would you,a s the first ever Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs, be ready to submit proposals to establish legal and safe routes for asylum seekers into the EU?".

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Hearing of Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Commissioner-designate in charge of Migration and Home Affairs, "Yes, of course I will. I clearly intend to undertake initiatives on the basis of what you said and on the basis of all the experiences we have gathered. We need a legal framework, and not just on asylum, but irregular immigration as well".

SOUNDBITE (French), Nathalie GRIESBECK (ALDE, FR), "Can you commit yourself to implementing the recommendations set out in the report on unaccompanied minors in November of last year? What measures would you use and in which time frame. And what follow up would you provide to those paragraphs which re-state the fact that in our democracies it si not normally possible to detain or hold a minor?".

SOUNDBITE (English), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Commissioner-designate in charge of Migration and Home Affairs, "We must not have these children retained with adults. It's very important. And we must take care of them. This will be one of the main characteristics of the policy we intend to adopt in the future. Children is the most sensitive part of our society and they need special and also a more sensitive treatment".