In Kos, it is not certain that the hotspot will be completed, as some inhabitants protest, sometimes violently, against the "installation of illegal migrants on their island" which will "harm tourism"
- Turkey considered as a safe third country means that the readmission agreement will be implemented and people entering Europe can be sent back to Turkey (if it was their transit country).
- More police officers and coastguards in Greece to control borders, send people to hotspots and deport them.
- More autonomy for Frontex
- Hotspots in Greece will be completed this month: in Kos, Leros, Samos, Chios (and Lesvos). The army is coordinating the work.
In the framework of the readmission agreement between the EU and Turkey that will enter into force in June 2016, European countries will be able to deport people considered as "economic migrants" (i.e not 'real' refugees) to Turkey. But if Turkey is considered as a 'safe third country', even 'refugees' will be sent back to Turkey if it was their transit country.
Coastguards and Frontex systematically "rescue"/intercept people when they reach the Greek territoy today. In some weeks, the 5 hotspots will be completed and 'receive' them. What will happen? Will every new comer be sent back to Turkey, that already hosts more than 3 million refugees?
How is it possible for European countries to consider Turkey as a safe third country considering the violations of human rights widely reported in that country? Why should Turkey consider asylum applications of people once they are sent back from Europe, if Europe refuses to provide them any protection?
How can the European Union ask Turkey to open the Syrian border if European countries are defining a system that allows them to send every foreigner back to Turkey ?
http://www.ekathimerini.com/205708/article/ekathimerini/news/hot-spot-work-intensifies-as-greece-agrees-to-recognize-turkey-as-safe-country
Hot spot work intensifies as Greece agrees to recognize Turkey as ‘safe’ country
Greek authorities agreed on Friday to recognize Turkey as a “safe third country,” which means migrants for whom Turkey is a country of transit, not of origin, can be returned there.
The decision was announced after a meeting in Athens between Greek Interior Minister Panayiotis Kouroublis and his French and German counterparts, Bernard Cazeneuve and Thomas de Maiziere.
“This is a major step for Greece and we are taking it because we want to show our willingness to find a comprehensive way to address the problem,” said Kouroublis after the meeting. European officials said the shift in Greek policy was a “good start.”
The goal “cannot just be to register arriving refugees and to relocate them equitably [but above all] to reduce the flow,” said de Maiziere at the end of his two-day visit. He added that Germany is sending 100 police officers and two coast guard vessels to Greece.
Cazeneuve said he is in favor of the European Union border agency taking on greater responsibility. Data from the passport-free Schengen zone must include “terrorism [records] by police and intelligence agencies, and conditions must be created to link the Schengen system to other criminal records,” Cazeneuve told reporters.
Greece is under pressure to complete the creation of more “hot spots” for registering refugees and migrants later this month. Athens has enlisted the help of the army to carry out the work.
As of yesterday, 94 prefabricated structures had been delivered to the site in Chios and 87 on Leros. Construction work was under way on Samos, where an old army firing range is being converted.
On Kos, riot police who had been sent to the island from Athens fired tear gas to deter some 100 locals who tried to force their way into a disused army camp that is being turned into a hot spot.
European Union sources told Kathimerini they are hopeful that at least three of the five centers will be ready in the next few days given that the army is now coordinating the work and humanitarian aid has arrived from other EU member states.
- More autonomy for Frontex
- Hotspots in Greece will be completed this month: in Kos, Leros, Samos, Chios (and Lesvos). The army is coordinating the work.
In the framework of the readmission agreement between the EU and Turkey that will enter into force in June 2016, European countries will be able to deport people considered as "economic migrants" (i.e not 'real' refugees) to Turkey. But if Turkey is considered as a 'safe third country', even 'refugees' will be sent back to Turkey if it was their transit country.
Coastguards and Frontex systematically "rescue"/intercept people when they reach the Greek territoy today. In some weeks, the 5 hotspots will be completed and 'receive' them. What will happen? Will every new comer be sent back to Turkey, that already hosts more than 3 million refugees?
How is it possible for European countries to consider Turkey as a safe third country considering the violations of human rights widely reported in that country? Why should Turkey consider asylum applications of people once they are sent back from Europe, if Europe refuses to provide them any protection?
How can the European Union ask Turkey to open the Syrian border if European countries are defining a system that allows them to send every foreigner back to Turkey ?
http://www.ekathimerini.com/205708/article/ekathimerini/news/hot-spot-work-intensifies-as-greece-agrees-to-recognize-turkey-as-safe-country
Hot spot work intensifies as Greece agrees to recognize Turkey as ‘safe’ country
Greek authorities agreed on Friday to recognize Turkey as a “safe third country,” which means migrants for whom Turkey is a country of transit, not of origin, can be returned there.
The decision was announced after a meeting in Athens between Greek Interior Minister Panayiotis Kouroublis and his French and German counterparts, Bernard Cazeneuve and Thomas de Maiziere.
“This is a major step for Greece and we are taking it because we want to show our willingness to find a comprehensive way to address the problem,” said Kouroublis after the meeting. European officials said the shift in Greek policy was a “good start.”
The goal “cannot just be to register arriving refugees and to relocate them equitably [but above all] to reduce the flow,” said de Maiziere at the end of his two-day visit. He added that Germany is sending 100 police officers and two coast guard vessels to Greece.
Cazeneuve said he is in favor of the European Union border agency taking on greater responsibility. Data from the passport-free Schengen zone must include “terrorism [records] by police and intelligence agencies, and conditions must be created to link the Schengen system to other criminal records,” Cazeneuve told reporters.
Greece is under pressure to complete the creation of more “hot spots” for registering refugees and migrants later this month. Athens has enlisted the help of the army to carry out the work.
As of yesterday, 94 prefabricated structures had been delivered to the site in Chios and 87 on Leros. Construction work was under way on Samos, where an old army firing range is being converted.
On Kos, riot police who had been sent to the island from Athens fired tear gas to deter some 100 locals who tried to force their way into a disused army camp that is being turned into a hot spot.
European Union sources told Kathimerini they are hopeful that at least three of the five centers will be ready in the next few days given that the army is now coordinating the work and humanitarian aid has arrived from other EU member states.