Videos:
Speech by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the EASO Consultative Forum in Athens: https://youtu.be/W_KAotvLuac
Press statement by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the EASO Consultative Forum in Athens (ελληνικά): https://youtu.be/8ws05DtYCD8
Dear all,
I was here to open the 6th Consultative Forum with the civil society of the European Asylum Support Office.
The consultative forum is the opportunity for all the actors that are working on the ground, to meet and to share operational expertise and experience:
– on the functioning of the hotspots and of the relocation scheme – on the protection of the vulnerable migrants, especially the unaccompanied minors.
I welcome that it takes place this year in Athens, at the very frontline of the refugee crisis.
Europe’s migratory situation still remains fragile but the situation is improving.
In March we had 10.000 arriving a day, now less than 100. This crisis is not over yet.
There is progress, but still, more need to be done.
The humanitarian situation in Greece, especially on the islands, is very challenging.
Greek people have proved themselves remarkably resilient and humane.
The incident in Moria last week is a tangible, tragic example and I deplore it very much.
It is not the time to reduce our efforts or to become complacent Frontline Member States are bearing a huge responsibility – but they should not be doing it alone.
We need to have real solidarity, not in words, not a la carte. We need, it now and in the long term.
Almost 8 000 persons have been relocated both from Greece and Italy including more than a thousand in the course of November.
This is a positive trend. Member States need to continue increasing their pledges for relocation, and deliver on those swiftly.
EASO plays a crucial role in providing essential operational support to the Greek asylum service.
We call on Member States to deliver on relocation, and to deploy more asylum experts to support the processing of the asylum applications.
Europe is right here, supporting Greece. The EU-Turkey Statement works.
We do everything to fulfil our commitments to make the EU-Turkey Statement continue to work.
This is our priority – we are all committed.
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