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 …
SR-interview: „Corona reaches refugee camp Moria“
The situation on Lesvos is already dramatic without the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the first case on the Greek island has been confirmed. In the SR interview of the week I talked about what this means for the overcrowded refugee camp Moria. You can listen to the interview here.
Star: „Corona does not care about origin, skin color or religion“
„Corona is getting us all and our response must be to stick together.“ Video in the Star on our #LeaveNoOneBehind campaign to finally evacuate people from the slum camps. You can read the article and watch the video here.
My current assessment of the situation in Greece
Instead of talking about racist marauding gangs at the external borders, the Greek coast guard is refusing rescues, attacking rubber dinghies and putting people's lives in danger. Those who share the military rhetoric of "European shield" or an "attack on the EU" or support the Greek demand for "maximum deterrence" are giving the right-wing mob and racist violence a pass. …
Tagesspiegel: "Dead bodies are accepted here"
In the Tagesspiegel I report how the rule of law is failing on Lesbos and human rights are being broken. We urgently need humanitarian aid at the border. You can read the article here.
taz interview: "I am ashamed of Europe"
In an interview with the taz, I talk about the devastating situation of refugees in Greece and what needs to happen now to overcome the crisis. You can read the interview here.
Humanitarian crisis in Greece: Germany & Europe must offer refugees protection
Click here for the petition! A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding on the Turkish-Greek border: after Turkish President Erdoğan opened the border with Greece, thousands of refugees have set off to apply for asylum in the EU. In Greece the police are using force to prevent people from …