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Reply to the campaign on the situation at the EU’s external borders with Turkey, following a large attempted migrant influx

© oxinoxi / Adobe Stock

The President of the European Parliament sometimes receives large numbers of identical messages on a given topic. The Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (AskEP) is asked to reply to these campaign messages. Replies to campaigns are also published on the EPRS blog.

The President of the European Parliament has received a large number of messages calling on the EU to adopt a clear and humane migration and external border policy.

See below for the reply sent to citizens who wrote to the President of the European Parliament on this matter (in English, German, Greek, Spanish, French and Italian).

Reply in English

The Presidents of the EU institutions (European Parliament, European Council and European Commission) immediately accepted the invitation of the Bulgarian and Greek Prime Ministers to visit the borders and to see the situation for themselves. This visit took place on Tuesday, 3 March 2020.

The Presidents of the EU institutions made statements of support to the Bulgarian and Greek citizens and authorities which are available here: statement of Mr Sassoli, statement of Mr Charles Michel, President of the European Council, statement of Ms Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

After the visit, Mr Sassoli stated: ‘We urgently call on the Turkish authorities to respect the agreement with the European Union and we remain open for dialogue.’ He also called upon ‘European leaders to work constructively with us in order to find a solution for the fair redistribution of people in need. This is the only way to live up to our values and make Europe a global leader in the defence of human rights.’

On Wednesday 4 March 2020, Mr Michel and Mr Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, met with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, Turkey. A press release on this meeting is available here.

On the same day, the EU Ministers of Home Affairs took part in an extraordinary meeting in Brussels at which they agreed, inter alia, that: ‘All Member States, the European Commission and EU Agencies stand ready to strengthen their support to areas under pressure, including through the deployment of FRONTEX’s rapid border intervention and additional technical assistance. Member States will swiftly provide the support necessary to ensure the immediate deployment of the relevant teams and assets. The Commission will play an active role in coordinating Member States’ support.’

The European Parliament held a debate on the situation during its session in Brussels on Tuesday 10 March 2020.

Reply in German

Die Präsidenten der EU-Organe (Europäisches Parlament, Europäischer Rat und Europäische Kommission) nahmen sogleich die Einladung des bulgarischen und des griechischen Premierministers an, die Grenzen zu besuchen und sich selbst ein Bild von der Lage vor Ort zu machen. Dieser Besuch fand am Dienstag, den 3. März 2020, statt.

Die Präsidenten der drei EU-Organe gaben bei der Gelegenheit Erklärungen zur Unterstützung der Bürger und Behörden von Bulgarien und Griechenland ab, die hier (in englischer Sprache) abgerufen werden können: Erklärung von David Sassoli, Erklärung von Charles Michel, Präsident des Europäischen Rates, Erklärung von Ursula von der Leyen, Präsidentin der Europäischen Kommission.

Nach dem Treffen sagte David Sassoli: „Wir fordern die türkischen Behörden nachdrücklich auf, das Abkommen mit der Europäischen Union einzuhalten, und wir bleiben offen für den Dialog.“ Er forderte außerdem die europäischen Staats- und Regierungschefs auf, „konstruktiv mit uns zusammenzuarbeiten, um eine Lösung für die gerechte Umverteilung von Menschen in Not zu finden. Nur so können wir unseren Werten gerecht werden und Europa weltweit zu einer führenden Kraft bei der Verteidigung der Menschenrechte machen“.

Am Mittwoch, den 4. März 2020, trafen sich Charles Michel und Josep Borrell, Hoher Vertreter für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik und Vizepräsident der Europäischen Kommission, mit dem türkischen Präsidenten Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in der türkischen Hauptstadt Ankara. Eine Pressemitteilung zu diesem Treffen ist (in englischer Sprache) hier verfügbar.

Am selben Tag nahmen die Innenminister der EU an einer außerordentlichen Sitzung in Brüssel teil, bei der sie unter anderem folgendes vereinbarten: „Alle Mitgliedstaaten, die Europäische Kommission und die EU-Agenturen sind bereit, ihre Unterstützung für Gebiete, die einem besonderen Druck ausgesetzt sind, zu verstärken, und zwar unter anderem durch den Soforteinsatz zu Grenzsicherungszwecken von Frontex und durch zusätzliche technische Hilfe. Die Mitgliedstaaten werden rasch die erforderliche Unterstützung leisten, um die sofortige Entsendung der entsprechenden Teams und die Bereitstellung der Mittel zu gewährleisten. Die Kommission wird eine aktive Rolle bei der Koordinierung der Unterstützungsmaßnahmen der Mitgliedstaaten einnehmen.“

Das Europäische Parlament hat während seiner Tagung in Brüssel am Dienstag, den 10. März 2020, eine Debatte über die Lage an den EU-Außengrenzen mit der Türkei geführt.

Reply in Greek

Οι Πρόεδροι των θεσμικών οργάνων της ΕΕ (Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο, Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο και Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή) αποδέχθηκαν αμέσως την πρόσκληση των πρωθυπουργών της Βουλγαρίας και της Ελλάδας να επισκεφθούν τα σύνορα και να δουν την κατάσταση οι ίδιοι. Η επίσκεψη πραγματοποιήθηκε την Τρίτη 3 Μαρτίου 2020.

Οι Πρόεδροι των θεσμικών οργάνων της ΕΕ προέβησαν σε δηλώσεις υποστήριξης προς τους πολίτες και τις αρχές της Βουλγαρίας και της Ελλάδας, δηλώσεις οι οποίες είναι διαθέσιμες εδώ: Δήλωση του κ. Sassoli , δήλωση του κ. Charles Michel, Προέδρου του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου , δήλωση της κ. Ursula von der Leyen, Προέδρου της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής .

Μετά την επίσκεψη, ο κ. Sassoli δήλωσε: «Καλούμε επειγόντως τις τουρκικές αρχές να σεβαστούν τη συμφωνία με την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και να παραμείνουν ανοικτές στον διάλογο». Κάλεσε επίσης τους «Ευρωπαίους ηγέτες να εργαστούν εποικοδομητικά μαζί μας προκειμένου να εξευρεθεί λύση για τη δίκαιη ανακατανομή των ανθρώπων που έχουν ανάγκη. Αυτός είναι ο μόνος τρόπος να ανταποκριθούμε στις αξίες μας και να αναδείξουμε την Ευρώπη σε παγκόσμια ηγέτιδα δύναμη στον τομέα της υπεράσπισης των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων.»

Την Τετάρτη 4 Μαρτίου 2020, ο κ. Michel και ο κ. Josep Borrell, Ύπατος Εκπρόσωπος για θέματα εξωτερικής πολιτικής και πολιτικής ασφαλείας/Αντιπρόεδρος της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής, συναντήθηκαν με τον Πρόεδρο κ. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan στην Άγκυρα της Τουρκίας. Δελτίο τύπου για τη συνάντηση αυτή είναι διαθέσιμο εδώ.

Την ίδια ημέρα, οι υπουργοί Εσωτερικών της ΕΕ συμμετείχαν σε έκτακτη συνεδρίαση στις Βρυξέλλες, στην οποία συμφώνησαν, μεταξύ άλλων, ότι: «Όλα τα κράτη μέλη, η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή και οι οργανισμοί της ΕΕ είναι έτοιμα να ενισχύσουν τη στήριξή τους στις περιοχές που δέχονται πίεση, μεταξύ άλλων μέσω της ανάπτυξης της ταχείας επέμβασης του FRONTEX και της πρόσθετης τεχνικής βοήθειας. Τα κράτη μέλη θα προσφέρουν ταχέως την αναγκαία υποστήριξη για να εξασφαλιστεί η άμεση ανάπτυξη των σχετικών ομάδων και πόρων. Η Επιτροπή θα διαδραματίσει ενεργό ρόλο στον συντονισμό της στήριξης των κρατών μελών».

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο πραγματοποίησε συζήτηση σχετικά με την κατάσταση κατά τη σύνοδό του στις Βρυξέλλες την Τρίτη 10 Μαρτίου 2020.

Reply in Spanish

Los Presidentes de las instituciones de la UE (Parlamento Europeo, Consejo Europeo y Comisión Europea) aceptaron inmediatamente la invitación de los Primeros Ministros búlgaro y griego a que visitaran las fronteras y vieran la situación por sí mismos. Esta visita tuvo lugar el martes 3 de marzo de 2020.

Los Presidentes de las instituciones de la UE hicieron declaraciones de apoyo a los ciudadanos y a las autoridades de Bulgaria y Grecia. Puede consultar estas declaraciones siguiendo los siguientes enlaces: declaración de David Maria Sassoli; declaración de Charles Michel, Presidente del Consejo Europeo; declaración Ursula von der Leyen, Presidenta de la Comisión Europea.

Después de la visita, el Presidente David Maria Sassoli declaró: «Pedimos urgentemente a las autoridades turcas que respeten el acuerdo con la Unión Europea y seguimos abiertos al diálogo». También pidió a los dirigentes europeos que «trabajen con nosotros de modo constructivo para encontrar una solución encaminada a una redistribución equitativa de las personas que lo necesitan, ya que es la única forma de estar a la altura de nuestros valores y de poner a Europa a la vanguardia de la defensa de los derechos humanos».

El miércoles 4 de marzo, Charles Michel y Josep Borrell, Alto Representante de la Unión para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad y Vicepresidente de la Comisión Europea, se reunieron con el Presidente Recep Tayyip Erdoğan en Ankara (Turquía). A través de este enlace puede consultar el comunicado de prensa relativo a dicha reunión.

Ese mismo día, los Ministros de Interior de la UE participaron en una reunión extraordinaria celebrada en Bruselas en la que acordaron, entre otras cosas, lo siguiente: «Todos los Estados miembros, la Comisión Europea y las agencias de la UE están dispuestos a reforzar su apoyo a las zonas sometidas a presión, en particular mediante el despliegue de la intervención rápida en las fronteras de Frontex y asistencia técnica adicional. Los Estados miembros facilitarán diligentemente el apoyo necesario para garantizar el despliegue inmediato de los equipos y medios pertinentes. La Comisión desempeñará un papel activo en la coordinación del apoyo de los Estados miembros».

El Parlamento Europeo celebró un debate sobre esta situación en su sesión del martes 10 de marzo de 2020 en Bruselas.

Reply in French

Les présidents des institutions de l’Union européenne (Parlement européen, Conseil européen et Commission européenne) ont immédiatement accepté l’invitation des premiers ministres bulgare et grec à se rendre sur les frontières et à juger par eux-mêmes de la situation. Cette visite a eu lieu le mardi 3 mars 2020.

Les présidents des institutions de l’Union européenne ont fait des déclarations dans lesquelles ils apportaient leur soutien aux citoyens et autorités bulgares et grecs. Elles se trouvent aux adresses suivantes: déclaration de M. Sassoli, déclaration de M. Charles Michel, Président du Conseil européen, déclaration de Mme Ursula von der Leyen, Présidente de la Commission européenne.

Après la visite, M. Sassoli a fait la déclaration suivante: «Nous demandons instamment aux autorités turques de respecter l’accord conclu avec l’Union européenne et nous restons ouverts au dialogue». Il a également invité les responsables européens à «travailler de manière constructive avec nous afin de trouver une solution pour la répartition équitable des personnes qui sont dans le besoin. C’est la seule manière d’être fidèles à nos valeurs et de faire de l’Europe un chef de file mondial dans la défense des droits de l’homme».

Le mercredi 4 mars 2020, M. Michel et M. Josep Borrell, Haut Représentant pour les affaires étrangères et la politique de sécurité / Vice-Président de la Commission européenne, ont rencontré le Président Recep Tayyip Erdogan à Ankara (Turquie). Un communiqué de presse relatif à cette rencontre est disponible ici.

Le même jour, les ministres de l’intérieur de l’Union européenne ont participé à une réunion extraordinaire à Bruxelles au cours de laquelle ils ont convenu, entre autres, que: «L’ensemble des États membres, la Commission européenne et les agences de l’UE sont prêts à renforcer leur soutien aux régions sous pression, y compris par le déploiement de l’intervention rapide de Frontex aux frontières et une assistance technique supplémentaire. Les États membres fourniront rapidement le soutien nécessaire pour assurer le déploiement immédiat des équipes et des moyens d’intervention concernés. La Commission jouera un rôle actif dans la coordination du soutien apporté par les États membres.

Le Parlement européen a organisé un débat sur la situation pendant sa période de session à Bruxelles le mardi 10 mars 2020.

Reply in Italian

I presidenti delle istituzioni dell’UE (Parlamento europeo, Consiglio europeo e Commissione europea) hanno immediatamente accettato l’invito dei primi ministri bulgaro e greco a visitare le frontiere e a verificare di persona la situazione. La visita si è svolta martedì 3 marzo 2020.

I presidenti delle istituzioni dell’UE hanno rilasciato dichiarazioni di sostegno ai cittadini e alle autorità bulgare e greche che sono disponibili al seguente indirizzo: dichiarazione dellꞌon. Sassoli, dichiarazione di Charles Michel, Presidente del Consiglio europeo, dichiarazione di Ursula von der Leyen, Presidente della Commissione europea.

Dopo la visita, l’on. Sassoli ha dichiarato: “Chiediamo urgentemente alle autorità turche di rispettare l’accordo con l’Unione europea e restiamo aperti al dialogo.” Ha altresì invitato “i leader europei a lavorare in modo costruttivo con noi affinché si trovi una soluzione per unꞌequa ridistribuzione delle persone bisognose. Questo è lꞌunico modo per essere all’altezza dei nostri valori e rendere lꞌEuropa un leader globale nella difesa dei diritti umani”.

Mercoledì 4 marzo 2020 Charles Michel e Josep Borrell, alto rappresentante per la politica estera e di sicurezza/vicepresidente della Commissione europea, hanno incontrato il Presidente Recep Tayyip Erdogan ad Ankara, Turchia. Un comunicato stampa relativo a questo incontro è disponibile qui.

Lo stesso giorno i ministri dell’Interno dell’UE hanno partecipato a una riunione straordinaria a Bruxelles in cui hanno convenuto, tra l’altro, che: “Tutti gli Stati membri, la Commissione europea e le agenzie dell’UE sono pronti a rafforzare il loro sostegno alle zone sotto pressione, anche attraverso lo spiegamento del rapido intervento di Frontex alle frontiere e un’ulteriore assistenza tecnica. Gli Stati membri forniranno rapidamente il sostegno necessario per assicurare l’invio immediato delle squadre e delle risorse pertinenti. La Commissione svolgerà un ruolo attivo nel coordinare il sostegno degli Stati membri”.

Il Parlamento europeo ha tenuto una discussione sulla situazione durante la sua tornata a Bruxelles martedì 10 marzo 2020.

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