Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first thank First Deputy Prime Minister Pušić and Deputy Prime Minister Ostojić for their hospitality today.
The ongoing refugee crisis is affecting not just Croatia, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Italy, or Germany. It is affecting Europe as a whole, and requires a joint, European response. I am happy to report to you today on several constructive meetings in Zagreb.
Croatia has a key role to play in addressing the refugee crisis in its immediate neighbourhood and Western Balkan region, and I am glad to see evidence today of its willingness and commitment to do so. Croatia has experienced a significant influx of refugees in the last few weeks: almost 120,000 people entered Croatia since 16 September. This once again demonstrates that passing on the refugee problem from one country to another, or closing borders, is not a solution.
The only solution is a European, joint approach, in a full spirit of solidarity and responsibility. Everyone, every country has to play its part.
To address the current refugee crisis, we have exchanged on the measures that are or shall be fully implemented at all steps of the migratory route in the neighbouring countries – in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan; in Greece, in the Western Balkans and in Croatia.
I thank Croatia for the support it gives to the comprehensive policy put forward by the Commission.
Europe has to get better organised to manage its borders, to welcome refugees, to improve the return of irregular migrants. To support your country, an envelope of more than 70 million euros for the period 2014-2020 is available in dealing with its migration and security challenges as well as 120 million euros to upgrade your infrastructure in order to comply with the Schengen rules.
I have encouraged the ministers today to speed up the internal procedure to use these sources of funding as much as possible. EU funds should be used to develop the reception capacities and ensure that the reception conditions respect the dignity of the refugees and to reinforce the border control and foster return.
Croatia should also not hesitate to mobilise EU instrument such as the Civil Protection Mechanism or the deployment Frontex Rapid Border Intervention Teams or Support teams. The Commission stands ready to deploy Migration management support teams in hotspot areas to effectively identify, register and fingerprint all new arrivals. But it is up to Croatia to decide if they need help.
The Frontex Agency can support Croatia to face the large number of arrivals at its border and ensure that those that do not want to apply for asylum will be returned.
I cannot repeat enough that this refugee crisis can only be solved if we work together, both within the EU and with our neighbouring countries – not against each other. I encourage Croatia to intensify its dialogue with the Serbian authorities and other Western Balkan countries. We need continuous and constructive dialogues, not walls or fences.
We have two important meetings ahead of us this week; the Home Affairs Council and the High-level conference on the Western Balkan migratory route in Luxembourg, both on Thursday. And right after this conference I will leave to Italy for the very first relocation of Eritrean refugees to Sweden. I will also visit the hotspot in Lampedusa. And I hope that next week we will also have the first relocation of Syrians from Greece to Luxembourg.
Let me close by reiterating that the European Commission stands by Croatia in addressing this refugee crisis, but that we count on Croatia to take up its responsibility both within the EU and towards its Western Balkan neighbours.