During the plenary session (9-12 March 2020) of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs assess the situation of migrants and asylum seekers following an ad-hoc visit by David SASSLOLI, EP President, Charles MICHEL, President of the Council and Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC. They also look into the Greek authorities’ response to the decision by Turkey to open its border and the EU emergency assistance offered to Athens for border management.

Brussels

EU - Greece (T)

debate

plenary session

EU - Türkiye (T)

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

Migration situation at the Greek-Turkish border and the EU's common response to it: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Greece manage entry at our common EU border and we are now facing politically motivated pressure at the European external border. It is necessary that we support Greece and we are supporting Greece and we are now taking urgent measures in all these areas. And third, of course, we must share responsibilities for supporting Syrian refugees also in Turkey.

SOUNDBITE (English), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), The reality is that the Greek government deserves our full support. Compare the situation to what happened in 2015. It is a different state of affairs at the border today because we have a government in Athens that is able to protect its borders. That was not the case with Alexis Tsipras in 2015. This is the reality.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Iratxe GARC&#205;A P&#201;REZ (S&amp;D, ES), Greece needs our support because Greece is the victim of the lack of responsibility of the Council since it has actually blocked the reform of Dublin. Mr. Weber, I do apologise, but I think that you made this reference to the change of government in Greece, because exactly the same difficulties which the government in Greece has the moment to tackle this issue.The same issue was the same with the previous government. And I really don't think you should be taking political advantage of this. At all.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (RE, NL), Europe has abandoned its citizens and Europe has betrayed its values. So let's try and use this crisis to do better. And I think that our adjusted work schedules should not be a reason for not doing our parliamentary job as a co-legislator and a budget authority. Firstly, we urgently need to relocate people from the islands with priority for unaccompanied minors and families with children. And I find the refusal of most member states fortunately not all to relocate people from the inslands is an absolute disgrace and I would like to praise the local authorities who have been a lot more generous and welcoming, very often more wise than our national governments. Yes, Europe also has to renegotiate with Mr Erdogan, but not a statement, which is basically no more than just a press release, but a proper international enforceable agreement under EU law and under scrutiny of this house.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), It is shocking that Europe will only care about refugees when they pose a problem at our own borders. It is shocking that how Europe answers to people in need is with tear gas, with breaking the law and with suspending human rights. Is that who we really want to be? Those who are fleeing from a war, those who need protection and those who are living in unbearable conditions on Greek islands or anywhere else, they need our solidarity. And the EU needs to support the member states on the borders, but it completely fails. If this support is understood, as just more policing, keeping people out, rather, the EU should support Greece with applying international law by a rapid redistribution of the people trapped on the islands or at the border.