Refugees in Greece: MEPs demand solidarity, warn about impact of health crisis

Source: European Parliament (EP) i, published on Thursday, April 2 2020.

MEPs will discuss the situation at Greece’s external borders with the Greek government, the Commission, the Croatian Presidency, Frontex i and the EU i’s Fundamental Rights Agency.

While the tensions at the land border with Turkey seem to have subsided in the last few weeks, concern is growing over the dire conditions in which asylum-seekers are living in the overcrowded hotspots on the Aegean islands, particularly in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

In a meeting to be held via videoconference, the Civil Liberties Committee will assess the situation with the Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachi, and Minister for Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrisochoidis, as well as European Commission Vice-President for Promoting the European way of life, Margaritis Schinas i, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson i, and the Croatian State Secretary for European and International Affairs, Terezija Gras, on behalf of the Council Presidency.

MEPs will also get to hear from Frontex Executive Director, Fabrice Leggeri, and the Director of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), Michael O’Flaherty.

When: Thursday, 2 April, from 10.05 to 11.55.

Where: European Parliament in Brussels, room (4Q1), Antall building.

You can follow the meeting live.