Daily Report
Arrivals and Departures
In Turkey, between 10-11 May, media sources reported that 343 people were apprehended at Turkey’s sea borders for attempting to cross to the Greek Islands. They were reportedly of Syrian, Iraqi, Pakistani and Afghan nationality.
On 11 May, 73 refugees and migrants arrived to the Greek islands. According to the Government’s figures, 54,542 people remain in country, with 8,529 people on the islands and 46,013 people on the mainland. Those on the mainland are hosted in the different official sites established by Greek authorities, in collaboration with UNHCR and other partners, as well as in the informal sites of Eidomeni, EKO gas station, and Piraeus Port.
Of those on the mainland, UNHCR accommodation scheme for relocation candidates and asylum-seekers currently also hosts about 5,000 people, in hotel, apartment, and host family arrangements.
Condition of People
In Greece, at the Eidomeni makeshift site, some 9,000 people remain present and according to authorities, some have been there for the past two months. While efforts from the authorities to decongest the informal site continue, conditions remain extremely dire, causing a rise in tension among those present.
As of 11 May, UNHCR, in support of the Greek authorities, facilitated the transfer of 235 people to Orfeas hotel and Lagkadikia official site. According to the Representative of the Government’s Inter-Ministerial Coordination Body, four new sites near the city of Thessaloniki will host refugees and migrants. He explained that Oreokastro site (former factory) is fully operational and another in Kalohori is ready to receive refugees and migrants. UNHCR confirmed its readiness to support authorities in ensuring adequate standards in these locations.
According to local media, four buses with 148 refugees left Piraeus on 10 May with destination to Thermopylae, where 312 refugees are already hosted. According to authorities, around 2,000 refugees and migrants are now hosted at the port's warehouse.
Key Developments During a European Parliament plenary session held on 11 May, Members of European Parliament (MEPs) voiced serious concerns regarding Turkey's limited progress in meeting the benchmarks to benefit from a visa-free regime to the EU for its citizens by the end of June, in accordance with the EUTurkey Agreement. EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Avramopoulos also acknowledged that additional progress was required. He emphasized he was however “optimistic” that the necessary reforms would be implemented by Turkey by the end of June, while assuring that the EU would not lower its standards to the benefit of Turkey.
During the plenary, MEPs also discussed the continuation of checks at the Schengen’s internal borders, as recommended by the European Commission on 4 May. Many MEPs warned that such checks were putting the Schengen area, a significant achievement of the EU, at risk. Others emphasized the potential costs imposed in the transport and tourism sectors. In parallel, speakers agreed that, to restore the normal functioning of the Schengen, the EU’s external borders needed to be properly secured. The following day, on 12 May, the Council approved the Commission’s recommendation, noting that Austria, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden should maintain temporary border controls. Before doing so, they are required to exchange views with their neighbours to ensure that the checks are only carried out where it is deemed necessary and proportionate.
On 11 May, The European Commission recommended to open negotiations with Nigeria with the view to concluding a readmission agreement with the country. Readmission agreements apply to third country nationals residing irregularly on one of the parties’ territory. In particular, while they do not apply to asylum-seekers, they cover those whose claims have been rejected. In a press release, the European Commission assured that the rights set out by the Geneva Convention would be guaranteed under the readmission agreement. The recommendation now needs to be adopted by the Council in order that the European Commission can formally launch negotiations.