The responsibilities of Europe as well as Greece for the so far failed attempt to manage the refugee crisis were stressed by Alternate Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas during a speech at the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) in Brussels on Wednesday.
“We’re here today because Europe didn’t act united as Europe,” he said, adding that the crisis unfolding in Greece is a European problem.
He reminded the committee that since the Summit meeting last September, EU countries have not implemented the decisions taken then and that now the Balkan route closed unilaterally, without informing anyone, causing a serious humanitarian problem in Greece which could turn into a humanitarian crisis.
He said the living conditions in Idomeni are “shameful for Greece and for Europe,” as people were stranded there following the closure of the borders. Mouzalas also said the initial number of refugees that Greece pledged to keep in the country in September will have to be increased (from 23,000) but that more countries have to do their part in relocation.
Mouzalas also spoke of Europe’s delay in responding to Greek requests for help. He recalled that Greece had requested 1,400 men to staff FRONTEX last May and received no more than 700, while only 60 men of EASO are in Greece trying to complete asylum applications for 50,000 trapped people.
(source: ana-mpa)
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