Because of the current developments in Afghanistan, we have created until mid-October 2021 in addition to the „News from the Borders“ daily press review on the most important events in the country itself, but also on the people who are trying to flee from there. 10/14/2021: I talk to T-Online and Watson about the Kabul airlift and the …
Question: Security situation in Afghanistan
Together with the Social Democrat Bettina Vollath and the left-wing Clare Daly, I tabled a question to the Commission on the advance of the Islamists as early as 30 June, six weeks before the Taliban invaded Kabul. Unfortunately, it took the Commission more than 10 weeks to answer our question. This and other questions can be found …
Dissent Podcast „We could rescue people from Afghanistan, but we lack documents“
I talked with Lukas Ondreka from the Dissens Podcast for about an hour about the founding of the Kabul Airlift, our problems and possible solutions. You can listen to the detailed conversation here.
Question: Arrest of Dutch journalist Ingeborg Beugel
Journalist Ingeborg Beugel was arrested on the Greek island of Hydra at the beginning of June for harbouring a young Afghan. If convicted, she faces up to a year in prison. She says the accusations against her are unjustified and that the young man is a refugee, not an illegal migrant. To that …
EU Commission supports Croatia's Schengen accession despite pushback
On 15 June, together with eleven other MEPs from three political groups, I wrote this letter to Commissioner Ylva Johansson, in which we call on the Commission to take immediate action against the pushbacks and human rights violations by Croatia at the EU's external border. The letter was prompted by media reports from Spiegel, ARD, Lifhthouse Reports and Novosti, from which …
This is the current situation on Lesvos
I travelled to Lesvos in July to see what the current situation is in the new Mavrovouni camp after the fire in Moria. I also met with the Frontex field officers to talk about the current situation and the pushbacks by the Greek Coast Guard. And I visited various NGOs and civil society actors, …
Inquiry: 130 dead in the Mediterranean
In April, at least 130 people died after a shipwreck off the coast of Libya. This tragedy, like many others before it, could and should have been avoided. I have therefore put the following three questions to the Commission in a question. These and other questions can be found in full on the European Parliament's website. 1. how far were the ships …
Question: Does the EU support closed mass camps in Greece?
On 28.5.2021 the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum published a tender for the construction of the planned new "multi-purpose reception and identification centres" on Lesvos and Chios. A total of €142 million will be allocated for this purpose. The tender explicitly mentions that these will be "closed, controlled structures", 100 % of which will be financed with funds from the European …
Question: Construction of walls around Greek refugee camps
The Greek government is building more and more walls around the mass camps. This separates the refugees from the local population and makes the camps look more and more like prisons. That is why I, together with other MEPs, have asked the Commission what its position is on the construction and whether it is being supported with EU funds. The Commission replied, …
On its 70th birthday, the Geneva Convention on Refugees lies dying
Tomorrow we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Refugee Convention (GRC). The Refugee Convention is the most important document for the protection of refugees. A total of 149 states have signed up to it. But in the meantime it has become increasingly obvious that Europe is using force to close itself off instead of helping people in need. This is out of touch with history and a breach of the principles of the rule of law and …