Migration and Asylum
On the 28 October 2020 the Greens/EFA organised a webinar titled "Migration Pact: a better future for migration and asylum in the EU?"
In this report, drafted after an ad hoc visit to Greece in March 2020, the Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT) once again urges the Greek authorities to change their approach towards immigration detention and to ensure that migrants deprived of their liberty are treated both with dignity and humanity.
In this webinar hosted by Human Rights Watch, End Pushbacks Partnership and Refugee Rights Europe on the 19th November 2020, Tineke Strik intervened at minute 1:10:43.
Letter from Mr Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Chairman of the LIBE Committee to Mr Fabrice Leggeri, Executive Director of Frontex on Activities of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in Greece (4/11/2020)
Letter from Ms Monique Pariat, Director General Migration and Home Affairs at European Commission to Mr Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Chairman of the LIBE Committee on EU Readmission agreements and other “EU arrangements” (19/10/2020).
- Letter from Mr Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Chairman of the LIBE Committee to Mr Michalis Chrisochoidis, Greek Minister of Citizen Protection, Mr Notis Mitarachi, Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum, Mr Georgios Koumoutsakos, Greek Alternate Minister for Migration and Asylum, Mr Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Greek Minister of National Defence, Mr Ioannis Plakiotakis, Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs on the establishment of an independent body to investigate the evidence regarding incidents of March 2 and 4 at the Greek-Turkish border and reported pushbacks (17/09/2020)
- Letter from Mr Michalis Chirochoidis, Greek Minister of Citizen Protection to Mr Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Chairman of the LIBE Committee on the evidence regarding incidents of March 2 and 4 at the Greek-Turkish border and reported pushbacks (3/11/2020)
In this reply letter, the Greek Minister stressed the fact that the accusations of the use of fire by Greek police at the Greek Turkish border in March 2020, as well as those related to alleged push backs of migrants by the Greek authorities and made in the letter sent by the LIBE Chairman on 17/09/2020 are groundless. Moreover, the Greek Minister considered the evidence obtained untrustworthy and therefore hard to verify.
Letter from Mr Oliver Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement on the human rights situation of refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina (15/10/2020).
In this letter eighty-three MEPs call on the Commission to push for the immediate relocation of all asylum-seekers who used to live in Moria camp. In particular they call to relocate unaccompanied, separated or sick children and vulnerable persons. MEPs also urge the Commission to work with the Greek authorities to ensure that the new camp is safe for all and that it has adequate infrastructure with access to running water, food and health provisions and dedicated services for vulnerable people as well as access to education and to legal aid and they also stress the importance to ensure that NGOs are supported in carrying out their vital work on the ground.
The expectations were high before the launch of the proposals for a New Pact on Migration and Asylum. A new impetus was desperately needed in order to achieve a real harmonisation of asylum policies and most of all, a fair responsibility-sharing of asylum claims among the Member States.
Written Question submitted by MEP Erik Marquardt, co-signed by Tineke Strik (a.o.), regarding the prosecution of NGOs in Greece. The Questions were submitted at 07/10/2020, which sets the deadline for the Commission to respond at 07/2020. The reply of the Commission will be uploaded upon receival.