Video: https://youtu.be/Ig7W4EsqzkA
Good afternoon.
First of all, allow me to express my thanks to my good friend, Minister Costanza Urbano de Sousa, for this excellent opportunity for me to be back today in Lisbon.
As you know, the purpose initially was to launch the European Drugs Report but it coincided with the arrival of a group of migrants, who are relocated from Greece to Portugal. One other group arrived a week ago with 42 people and 31 will come today.
On behalf of the European Commission, I would like to express our gratitude and our congratulations to Portugal, the Portuguese government and the Portuguese people for opening their hearts, their doors, to welcome all these desperate people, who are seeking refuge in Europe.
Portugal is showing, what it really means, when we talk about solidarity in Europe. Yet again, I can tell you that right now we are working very hard in order to fully implement the relocation and resettlement scheme, we had adopted all together some months ago.
We are still confronted with some difficulties and I want to be frank with you that the results are not spectacular. I can say they are very poor. But the fact is that countries like Portugal are sending today a signal to the rest of the Europe on what, as I said before, solidarity really means.
But we will not stay only there. Right now the Commission is working really hard in order to adopt new mechanisms, new policies and new schemes in the field of integration. It is really important for these people to feel that they are in a very hospitable environment, to be given the opportunity to develop their skills, to study, for their children to receive medical care, food and treatment.
We should never forget that we talk about refugees and these people are in need of international protection. It is our moral but also our political duty to welcome them. And this is the spirit of the policies adopted by the European Commission.
On the other hand, it is also a signal of solidarity towards countries like Italy and Greece, that are under pressure today because the migratory flows are not stopping, especially to Italy. But we have had the first very positive signs from the implementation of EU-Turkey statement, it is very important and very positive. That is why we always say that we must fully implement this deal with Turkey.
The refugees issue is not a problem of Southern Europe only, as it was perceived at the beginning. It is a pan-European problem with a global dimension. Human mobility will define our century so we must be well prepared to welcome these people. Right now around the world there are approximately 60 million people who flee war, detention and persecution and they try to find safe heavens in other countries. Europe is the most successful example of integration and unity of nations during the last decades.
So Europe has become very attractive to all these people. But Europe is basing its existence on two principles. Solidarity and responsibility, and this is what everybody in Europe should adopt, uphold and implement. And this is what Portugal is sending today as a signal to the rest of Europe. Last but very important, in some minutes from now we are going to welcome these people that come from Greece. For me, this is not the first time, I was there in Italy when the first relocation operation took place some months ago. I was there to farewell them, as I did as well in Greece. Today I am on the other side, together with the minister and the citizens of Portugal to welcome these people. In some minutes from now, they are going to cross the borders of Europe legally. They are going to be received in a human way, with respect to their personality, with dignity and humanity.
This is something that has to do with the European culture and the European civilisation. And Portugal is one of the countries of Europe that is sending this message. I’d like to express my gratitude and my thanks to the minister, to the government and to the people of Portugal. And unfortunately, even now that we are here in this very hospitable country, in this very hospitable city, there are still people dying in the Mediterranean.
Just one week ago we had hundreds drowning after a boat capsized. So we must put an end to this drama. That is why Europe is working very hard.
From the very first moment of the life of this Commission, we adopted a common European migration policy and we are taking all the necessary measures.
It is very important in order to implement our policies that all member states be part of it, there are no lonely ways in Europe.
We are together, we are working together, we are deciding together so we must implement together what we have decided.
So if I can send a message to the other Member States from Lisbon, it is to think, feel and act in a European way according to the principles of solidarity and responsibility.
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