#BorderSecurity: Commission adopts assessment of Greek border management Action Plan and second report on relocation and resettlement

Today (12 April), the European Commission adopted its assessment of the Action Plan presented by the Greek authorities which details how Greece plans to address the deficiencies in its external border management. The Commission’s assessment finds that significant progress has been made by Greece but that further improvements to the Action Plan and its implementation are needed in order to comprehensively address the deficiencies identified. Today’s assessment constitutes another stage in the process set out by the Commission on the Roadmap ‘Back to Schengen’ which seeks to end temporary internal border controls and re-establish the normal functioning of the Schengen area before the end of the year.

Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said: "The EU's ability to maintain an area free of internal border controls depends on our ability to effectively manage our external borders. I welcome the continued efforts of the Greek Authorities to improve the situation, which we support. However, I also need to underline that all of the Council and Commission recommendations need to be met to face the unprecedented pressure at Europe's external borders. The objective of the European Commission and of the member states is to safeguard and strengthen Schengen. The Commission will continue to offer its support to Greece, and counts on the member states to do the same.”

The College also adopted today its Second Report on Relocation and Resettlement providing an update on the progress made up until 11 April 2016 and assessing the actions undertaken by member states to implement the emergency relocation and European resettlement schemes. Overall, progress since the Commission's first report has been unsatisfactory: on relocation, little progress has been made since mid-March, while we see good progress on resettlement.

Avramopoulos said:“EU member states need to urgently deliver on their political and legal commitment to relocate persons in need of international protection from Greece and Italy. We cannot be satisfied with the results achieved so far. Relocation efforts have to be increased dramatically to reply to the urgent humanitarian situation in Greece and to prevent any deterioration of the situation in Italy. Member states also need to speed up and increase their resettlement efforts. To effectively close the backdoor to irregular and dangerous migration routes, we have to open safe and legal routes to Europe for people in need of international protection. With the EU-Turkey agreement and the 1:1 mechanism in force, it has become even more urgent for member states to deliver swiftly on their resettlement commitments.”

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