Speech: Remarks by Commissioner Avramopoulos at the Press Conference following the College Meeting of 28 September

Dear all,

In the last 12 months, we have come a long way:

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  The EU-Turkey statement had as a result that the flows have dropped dramatically.
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  Progress - although not enough yet - has been made in Greece towards the full application of Dublin. Gradually going back to normal is our final goal.
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  Relocations and resettlements have increased and show that if there is political will and commitment the system can work.
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  And progress has been made towards back to Schengen: controls are limited and proportionate. 

We have made significant progress as a Union, but we have more work ahead of us - and urgently: all Member States need to take up their responsibilities and we will continue to support them.

The refugee crisis is not over, and this is why the progress of today must be sustained. Because the success of our common approach over the last months is essential for the success of everything else; from relocation, resettlement and the EU-Turkey Statement, to the gradual return to the Dublin system and a normal functioning of Schengen.

All our measures on migration are interlinked.

Let me start with our progress report on EU-Turkey Statement. Despite challenging circumstances this summer, the EU-Turkey Statement has continued to work and bear results and remains our number one priority. 

Since March, the number of arrivals in Greece has dropped drastically. Progress was made on other elements as well. 

We see a steady pace of resettlements of Syrians from Turkey, as well as returns from Greece to Turkeyin line with adequate standards.

Both sides need to continue their efforts. We are continuously engaging with Turkey, committed to helping Turkey fulfil the remaining visa liberalisation benchmarks as soon as possible. 

Our financial commitment to Turkey still holds: Today, the European Commission signed two direct grants worth €600 million to support Syrian refugees and host communities in Turkey in the areas of education and health, bringing the total amount contracted to over €1.2 billion as part of the €1.4 billion Special Measure that was adopted by the Commission at the end of July.

It shows that the EU stands by its commitments.  

Today we have also adopted a third recommendation on the specific measures that Greece needs to take to gradually resume, and on a case by case basis in the future, the transfers of asylum seekers under the Dublin rules.

I am happy to see that, despite the very difficult situation Greece is confronted with, the country continues to take important steps to improve its asylum system.

Since the last report, Greece has increased significantly its reception capacity and made progress in setting up Regional Asylum offices.  

At the same time, Greece concluded a large-scale pre-registration exercise, established new Appeals Committees and adopted new legislation on free legal aid and education of asylum-seekers and refugees.

However, much more needs to be done before a gradual resumption of Dublin transfers can be considered. We must avoid that an unsustainable burden is put on Greece.

I want to re-assure the Greek authorities that the European Commission and the Agencies continue to stand by Greece, with financial and technical assistance, in order to support the country in coming back to a normal functioning asylum system overall - because this is ultimately the objective of course. 

EU countries should urgently respond to EASO's call for experts, in order to ensure the effective processing of asylum applications in the Greek islands.  

An essential part in this process for Greece is the protection of vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors. But as I said in the beginning: all elements are interlinked.  

Greece cannot move forward if other EU Member States don't help in alleviating the pressure, with more than 60,000 people stuck in Greece, and more than 13,000 on the islands.  

And this takes me to the next point: the results of our sixth Relocation and Resettlement Report.

At the one year anniversary of the relocation scheme, we have witnessed the largest single relocation transfer of 200 people in one day from Greece in recent weeks, and more than 1,200 relocations in the past month alone from both Italy and Greece.  

This clearly shows that relocation is possible if there is political will - if Member States want it and if they take up their responsibility. Relocation can only work if everyone joins in.

Solidarity is not just a moral, but also a legal responsibility enshrined in the EU treaties. While there are different forms of solidarity, Member States have a legal responsibility to deliver on decisions already taken. I call again on all the Member States to cooperate, send experts, and to relocate asylum seekers as soon as possible, as many as possible, from both Italy and Greece.

Let's not forget: this is not a Greek or an Italian problem. This is a European challenge and requires a European response. I am also pleased to see the EU's considerable progress on resettlement efforts. Over 10,000 people have been resettled in EU countries under the Resettlement Scheme of 20 July, 2015.

This trend has to continue, because it is essential to help our neighbours, such as Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, who shelter millions of refugees on their territory.

It is also a signal that legal pathways to Europe do work. This is how we will destroy the smugglers' businesses and reduce the loss of lives at sea.  

The structural EU Resettlement Framework, which we proposed in July, will surely strengthen our efforts in the field and I hope that the co-legislators will soon agree on this.

Finally, today we also report on the temporary internal border controls carried out by Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, following our recommendation in May. 

I can confirm that the current controls remain within the conditions set by the Schengen rules. Therefore, the Commission does not see the need for proposing amendments at this stage.

But: our objective remains to lift all internal border controls and to return to a normal functioning of the Schengen area as soon as possible.  

I would like to underline that our position today does not prejudge the decision that will be taken at the end of the 6 months in November.

At the same time, we are preparing for the operationalisation of the European Border and Coast Guard, which is part of this comprehensive approach. We are working hard with Frontex. I will be in Bulgaria on 6 October for the official launch.

Ladies and gentlemen, as I mentioned at the beginning, we have come a long way since the beginning of the crisis. Those looking for a Plan B or calling our measures failures, I invite to look at the obvious and clear positive results that Union actions have delivered so far.

But that does not mean we should be satisfied yet. It means that what we are doing works, and needs to continue to work even more.

Now is the moment to keep this up.

Thank you.

SPEECH/16/3220