For several years now European states have been trying to make human rights monitoring and sea rescue operations at the EU's external borders more difficult and criminalised. Germany, too, has now passed further rules that could spell the end for the missions of some aid organisations. The model for this approach seems to be the Netherlands, where last year sea rescue was hindered on similar grounds. …
Our proposal for a fair and efficient asylum system in Europe
With this paper, we, the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, present our proposal for the future Common European Asylum System. We believe this is necessary because we in Europe are currently not treating refugees with the dignity they deserve. The Greek islands must not continue to be misused for a hotspot system that inevitably leads to a humanitarian …
Question: Situation on the border between Turkey and the EU
In order to be able to exercise my parliamentary control function as an MEP, I have the possibility to put questions to the EU Commission. The Commission must answer these questions.On 04.03.2020 I put the following questions to the Commission: Question with priority for written answer P-001313/2020 to the Commission Subject: Situation at the border between Turkey and the EU Since the …
#LeaveNoOneBehind – How can I help
I receive many requests from people who ask how they can help in the current situation. I am very happy about the great willingness to help and have therefore put together a few ideas for you what you can do now. Join the #LeaveNoOneBehind campaign Join more than 330,000 people and support the campaign …
Europe must not outsource sea rescue to Libya
The report "Places of Safety in the Mediterranean: The EU's Policy of Outsourcing Responsibility" by the Heinrich Böll Foundation shows that the North African Mediterranean states cannot be considered "safe havens" and that the EU cannot therefore outsource sea rescue to these states. This is especially true for the civil war country Libya. Since 2014, …
We can't leave anyone behind!
We now need a substantial evacuation of the camps on the Greek islands so that the refugees can protect themselves from the Corona virus. When I arrived on Lesvos at the end of February, I did not think that the situation could get much worse. I wanted to spend the week off from the session here to see how the situation was developing on Moria …
Expert opinion: Dealing with refugees at the Greek-Turkish border is illegal
I have commissioned an opinion entitled No State of Exception at the EU External Borders. It states that EU states must not suspend the right of asylum or refuse to accept asylum applications. Greece acted unlawfully when it suspended asylum law for a month. Pushbacks, or deportations, without a …
Expert opinion proves: Federal states may take in refugees on their own!
I have commissioned an expert opinion which has been published under the title: „Reception of refugees from the camps on the Greek islands by the German federal states - legal requirements and limits“. It sets out that the Federal Government may not refuse to accept some refugee children by the German Länder. The government thus rejects existing offers unlawfully …
DLF interview: „Desperate situation for refugees on Lesbos“
In an interview with Deutschlandfunk, I talked about what needs to be done now to save the people from the inhumane conditions in the Moria camp. You can listen to the interview here.
Question: Refoulement at the Greek-Turkish land border
In order to be able to exercise my parliamentary control function as an MEP, I have the possibility to put questions to the EU Commission. The Commission must answer these questions. On 23 March 2020, I received answers from the Commission to the following questions: Question for written answer E-004588/2019 to the Commission Subject: Rejections at the Greek-Turkish land border On 12 December 2019, the news magazine published …