Joint debate on Immigration situation at the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, in the EP in Brussels. Presentation by the European Commission on the EU-Turkey agreement, the relocation and resettlement and the resumption of transfers to Greece. Statements by Maarten VERWEY , EC representative, Stephen RYAN , EC representative, Kati PIRI (S&amp;D, NL), rapporteur, Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT) and Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL).

Brussels

EU - Greece (T)

EU - Türkiye (T)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

SARGENTINI, Judith (Greens/EFA, NL)

GOMES, Ana (S&D, PT)

joint debate

PIRI, Kati (S&D, NL)

Joint debate on immigration situation: extracts from the presentation by the European Commission on the EU-Turkey agreement, the relocation and resettlement and the resumption of transfers to Greece

SOUNDBITE (English), Maarten VERWEY , EC representative, The implementation of the facilities for refugees in Turkey has also continued by now by 2.2 billion of resources have been allocated in around 107 million resources has actually been dispersed inter alia for important programs to create an emergency social security net with cash assistance to refugees in turkey, medical care, education and education for refugee children.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stephen RYAN , EC representative, More we have said specifically in the recommendation is that Member States should aim relocating at least 2000 per month for Greece and 3000 per month from Greece from April 2017, and 1000 for Italy, with immediate effect, and 1.500 from April onwards and we've maintain that pace we think we should be able to relocated all of the relocable asylum seekers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Stephen RYAN , EC representative, The recommendation emphasizes, in a way more political point if you like, that the obligations in this respect are not only on Greece but also another Member States in terms of the support they provide to Greece, both in terms of honouring, the relocations commitments they were made in September 2015 that I described in the date before.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kati PIRI (S&amp;D, NL), rapporteur, Greece would increase the reception capacity to 13000 places and you are UNHCR 20000, so what happen to that agreement which was a big announcement in september 2015 and also when you look at the balkan rules, when we all see now the pictures coming in from Serbia you are in UNHCR increase reception facility to 15000 along the west on balkan route , so I don't understand why people is sleeping outside in this freezing winter right now. So, what happened to what already was presented in September 2015 as a deal? Is something was settled.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kati PIRI (S&amp;D, NL), Again the representative of the Commission reiterated what was a shocking remark by the Commisioner Avramopoulos saying that the Dublin return should return from first of March. Let's get realistic. We see the pictures of what's happening in Greece. You have just presented yourself, all the obstacles are still there. We are not sending people back to Greece for years, not only since the EU Turkey deal, because they we are not qualifying reception facilities. I am afraid you are feeding populism by announcing something that we all know in this room will not happen.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ana GOMES (S&amp;D, PT), Isn't the Commission worried about the consequences on radicalising people? In creating resentment in people? If I was one of these refugees or asylum seekers, I would be very, very angry towards the Europeans who are giving me this horrendous treatment. Isn't the Commission worried about the way this actually plays into the hands and the propaganda of all sorts of radicals.

SOUNDBITE (English), Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), They have said that the Turks interpret the EU-Turkey deal as follows: they only take somebody back on the one-on &ndash;one deal when they are still on the islands. Which is the reasons said the EC in that meeting, that people are not moving from the isles to the main land. Is that so? And if yes, can we get that in writing, Because I want to understand the Turkey deal.