Meanwhile the Council wrote a new paragraph to the draft regulation for the new Frontex: Greece and Italy will be isolated in case they fail in secure the European external borders
by Emanuele Bonini
Europe starts working on worst scenarios. Migration crisis is now more than a crisis, it is close to be a real emergency. In a joint statement issued today by the European Commission and the Dutch rotating presidency of the EU Council admitted to be «concerned about the developments along the Balkan route and the humanitarian crisis that might unfold in certain countries especially in Greece», calling on «all countries and actors along the route to prepare the necessary contingency planning to be able to address humanitarian needs, including reception capacities». The Dutch minister for Migration Klaas Dijkhoff and European Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, assured their joint determination to pursue a European approach to the refugee crisis, although Member State are already reintroducing border controls and are ready to isolate Greece in dealing with migrations.
The joint statement confirmed the worried status of the European Council, the EU institutions representing the 28 Member States. Diplomats admitted only few days before the joint statement that there is general concern over the development of the migration flows. «As far as we know at the moment the are not substantial changes in the routes», the diplomats said, but clearly the situation is felt as always more out of control. The Dutch presidency, until June the voice of the European governments, pushed the European Commission to do something, and the results are the emergency measures. «In parallel» with the national contingency plans asked to the Member States, «the Commission is coordinating a contingency planning effort, to offer support in case of a humanitarian crisis both outside and within the EU, as well as to further coordinate border management», said Commissioner Avramopoulos. Europe is basically preparing for the worst, considering there is no way out and no hope to invert the flows. EU officials explained that the number of migrants and refugee already arrived in the EU is too high, and is no higher only because of adverse atmospheric conditions. «To stem the flows» of incoming people is the main goal, and with no trend inversion Member States are acting to close their borders.
The draft proposal for a regulation of the Agency for the European border and coast guard (the body which will replace Frontex, the European Agency for external border control) foresees the possibility for Member States to close their national borders when countries responsible for control of the external borders of the EU don't take the necessary actions. It is an attempt to isolate Greece and Italy, in case the situation in Libya shall worsen. First of all, when in origin the decision process was given to the European Commission in case of urgent action required due to difficult situation at the external border now that power is given to the Council. The Dutch presidency is trying to oust the Commission in the management of the crisis, leaving Member States free from the binding decision of the EU Commission. In respect of that, in a new paragraph added to the main text the draft states that «if the Member State concerned doesn't comply with the Council decision and doesn't cooperate with the Agency, the Council may, as a last resort and as a measure to protect the common interest within the area without internal border control, recommend that one or more Member States decide to reintroduce borders control at all or specific part of the border for a period of up to six months». In other words, if Greece or/and Italy don't satisfy the requests from the other member States, these latter will close their frontiers. That is the end and the dead of the relocation scheme.
Now commissioner Avramopoulos' words make more sense. To be «concerned about the developments along the Balkan route and the humanitarian crisis that might unfold in certain countries especially in Greece» means clearly that the Hellenic Republic risks to be left alone. Thus Europe has to deal with more the emergency along the Balkan route, Europe has to deal with internal division. The European Commission tries do play a role of facilitator by proposing common strategies, but in return the Council is not willing to negotiate. This is something not good at all.
Europe starts working on worst scenarios. Migration crisis is now more than a crisis, it is close to be a real emergency. In a joint statement issued today by the European Commission and the Dutch rotating presidency of the EU Council admitted to be «concerned about the developments along the Balkan route and the humanitarian crisis that might unfold in certain countries especially in Greece», calling on «all countries and actors along the route to prepare the necessary contingency planning to be able to address humanitarian needs, including reception capacities». The Dutch minister for Migration Klaas Dijkhoff and European Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, assured their joint determination to pursue a European approach to the refugee crisis, although Member State are already reintroducing border controls and are ready to isolate Greece in dealing with migrations.
The joint statement confirmed the worried status of the European Council, the EU institutions representing the 28 Member States. Diplomats admitted only few days before the joint statement that there is general concern over the development of the migration flows. «As far as we know at the moment the are not substantial changes in the routes», the diplomats said, but clearly the situation is felt as always more out of control. The Dutch presidency, until June the voice of the European governments, pushed the European Commission to do something, and the results are the emergency measures. «In parallel» with the national contingency plans asked to the Member States, «the Commission is coordinating a contingency planning effort, to offer support in case of a humanitarian crisis both outside and within the EU, as well as to further coordinate border management», said Commissioner Avramopoulos. Europe is basically preparing for the worst, considering there is no way out and no hope to invert the flows. EU officials explained that the number of migrants and refugee already arrived in the EU is too high, and is no higher only because of adverse atmospheric conditions. «To stem the flows» of incoming people is the main goal, and with no trend inversion Member States are acting to close their borders.
The draft proposal for a regulation of the Agency for the European border and coast guard (the body which will replace Frontex, the European Agency for external border control) foresees the possibility for Member States to close their national borders when countries responsible for control of the external borders of the EU don't take the necessary actions. It is an attempt to isolate Greece and Italy, in case the situation in Libya shall worsen. First of all, when in origin the decision process was given to the European Commission in case of urgent action required due to difficult situation at the external border now that power is given to the Council. The Dutch presidency is trying to oust the Commission in the management of the crisis, leaving Member States free from the binding decision of the EU Commission. In respect of that, in a new paragraph added to the main text the draft states that «if the Member State concerned doesn't comply with the Council decision and doesn't cooperate with the Agency, the Council may, as a last resort and as a measure to protect the common interest within the area without internal border control, recommend that one or more Member States decide to reintroduce borders control at all or specific part of the border for a period of up to six months». In other words, if Greece or/and Italy don't satisfy the requests from the other member States, these latter will close their frontiers. That is the end and the dead of the relocation scheme.
Now commissioner Avramopoulos' words make more sense. To be «concerned about the developments along the Balkan route and the humanitarian crisis that might unfold in certain countries especially in Greece» means clearly that the Hellenic Republic risks to be left alone. Thus Europe has to deal with more the emergency along the Balkan route, Europe has to deal with internal division. The European Commission tries do play a role of facilitator by proposing common strategies, but in return the Council is not willing to negotiate. This is something not good at all.
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