In a round table for refugees and specifically for the resettlement of refugees, co-organized by the European Parliament and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, with the participation of representatives of the European Parliament and national parliaments, The Secretary of the Standing Committee on Public Administration participated, Public Order and Justice, Member of the Kozani EP, Stathis Konstantinidis.
In his position, Mr.. MP pointed out the following:
Ladies and gentlemen,
- I would like to quote the high degree of awareness of Greek society on the refugee issue and the displacement of people from their homes, since a large part of our population has refugee characteristics, such as the Pontians, whose ancestors fell victim to genocide by the Neo-Turkish movement during 1914-1923. From the beginning, Well, the issue touches our sensitive strings.
- The most specific issue of resettlement, ie the admission of refugees in third countries, in European Union countries, in Canada, in America etc.,, is indeed a distinct refugee chapter, but it is completely connected, for the reasons I will explain, with the overall issue of migration flows and the entry and accommodation of refugees in each country.
- The participants, representatives of international organizations and states, recorded the deviation from the goals set for 2020, in everything,with regard to the resettlement of refugees, because of the pandemic but also its economic and social impact on the host countries. Consequently, new initiatives will be required in the near future, in order to receive more beneficiaries of international protection.
- Greece, as a front-line country, has borne disproportionate responsibilities and burdens, in the context of European migration management in recent years. Moreover, flows in the Mediterranean remain a source of concern, because of Turkey's unacceptable and inhumane tactics of using human lives for political purposes.
- Turkey must stop its blackmailing stance and fully implement the provisions of its Joint Declaration 2016, preventing the creation of illegal immigration routes to the EU. In addition, must allow the return of illegally staying aliens, which he has suspended since March 2020.
- Greece protects national and European borders, in accordance with its international commitments, with respect for the rules of the Rule of Law and human value.
- Our country recognizes the crucial importance of a single EU immigration policy, to manage migration and refugee flows and to support cooperation efforts with third countries.
- Regarding the crisis in Afghanistan, we consider it imperative to formulate a single answer, supporting the region and neighboring countries, in order to avoid a new humanitarian crisis.
- Greece has offered safe haven in 819 Afghan citizens, whose lives were endangered by the Taliban regime, until relocated to third countries.
- With the above data, our country is unable to participate in resettlement programs, currently. However, as part of the overall effort to evacuate vulnerable people from Afghanistan, carried out important assistance operations.
Therefore, Greece supports a holistic EU asylum and immigration policy, crucial chapters of which should be, on the one hand, the support and strengthening of legal and safe refugee routes, such as resettlement and on the other hand the restriction of uncontrolled illegal flows, which constitute in all respects communicating quantities.
With price,
Efstathios Konstantinidis
Member of Parliament N.. Kozani
