Avramopoulos: Greece’s ‘eviction’ from Schengen was not raised or discussed
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The issue of ‘evicting’ any member-state from the Schengen zone was neither raised nor discussed, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Friday, while speaking at the Economist’s ‘The World in 2016 Gala Dinner’ in Athens. He criticised such reports as “exaggerations, conjecture and rumours that do only harm.”
He pointed out that there was actually no provision for such a course, though obviously all Schengen members had an obligation to implement the requirements of the border code.
“We all share responsibility for our safe free movement in the Schengen zone,” he said.
Regarding Greece, the Commissioner said that Greece’s external borders are the common European external borders and all have a joint obligation to assist Greece in the massive task of guarding them. For this reason, he added, the European Union had proposed the creation of a European border and coast guard.
“Greece has only one road ahead of it, that of Europe. This is and remains a historic choice, with a historic perspective,” he said.
Referring to the negative Schengen assessment report conducted in November, Avramopoulos said this had found a number of faults that needed to be remedied.
“Greek authorities are aware and are already proceeding with the necessary action. Guarding borders does not mean closing borders. It means conducting all the security checks and registering the incoming migrants,” he said. Greek authorities had picked up the pace and made a commitment to complete everything within the final deadlines, he added.
“Nobody wants to get to May and have controls on Europe’s ‘internal borders’ continue, as is already happening between Austria and Germany and elsewhere,” Avramopoulos said, pointing out that both the symbolic and economic cost were high.
He also called for an end to rising populism and nationalism in Europe, saying it was important to distinguish between situations and respect the values of humanism.
“It would be good in Europe to stop this dangerous phenomenon of each blaming the other. No one can manage on their own. Only united will we go forward,” he said.