Immediate transfer of refugees from the former airport of Ellinikon to other reception facilities while launching the process of relocating them to other EU countries

The situation that has developed over the last few months at the camp at the former Ellinikon airport poses a serious threat to the health of both refugees and local residents, in fact it is a veritable ‘health time bomb’.

It should be noted that the refugees were suddenly transferred to this site in September 2015, without any consultation with the local authorities.

Although the Ministry of Migration Policy has promised at least three times to remove the refugees from the inadequate facilities at Ellinikon airport, nothing has been done so far.

Last week the health situation at the site became particularly dangerous when sewage flooded the basement area below the former arrivals building, where at least 1 000 people, including families with children, are currently living under squalid conditions.

According to the local authorities, tension flares up and violent incidents break out virtually on a daily basis at this site among those remaining there, while neighbouring properties have also been damaged and suffered disruption.

Will the Commission therefore say what measures it intends to take, in cooperation with the Greek authorities, to ensure the immediate transfer of these persons from the Ellinikon airport site to other appropriate accommodation facilities, while at the same time launching the process of relocating them to other EU countries?

Answer to a written question – Immediate transfer of refugees from the former airport of Ellinikon to other reception facilities while launching the process of relocating them to other EU countries – E-006373/2016

6 December 2016 E-006373/2016 Answer given by Mr Avramopoulos on behalf of the Commission In its Sixth Report on Relocation and Resettlement(1), the Commission highlights all recent developments, including the exercise during which 27,592 persons were pre-registered in the Greek mainland as asylum-seekers. The Ellinikon airport was among the sites where that pre-registration was carried out. As indicated in this Report, progress has been achieved one year after the entry into force of the Council Decisions on relocation,(2) particularly in Greece, where only in September 2016, 1,134 people were relocated of which 577 in a single week. The Seventh Report(3) confirms the positive trend despite a dip in October 2016 due to the specific circumstances during the reporting period, which should be of a temporary nature and are explained in the report. In total 6,925 people (5,376 from Greece) have been relocated. For the positive trend to be strengthened, an acceleration of relocation efforts is needed in order to meet the obligations foreseen under the two Council Decisions. The measures to be taken by the Member States and other stakeholders to accelerate implementation are included in the report. Under the new Emergency Support Instrument(4), emergency support is specifically provided to the Ellinikon camp in the form of food distribution, as well as through the implementation of WASH facilities (maintenance of showers, toilets, water taps, cleaning and drainage). As the Commission understands from the Ministry of Migration Policy, Ellinikon is a temporary site, with its population planned for removal to appropriate reception facilities as soon as possible. Up to date information required by the Honourable Member on the overall situation in Greece is available on the Commission’s website.(5) (1) COM(2016) 636 final. (2) Council Decision (EU) 2015/1601 of 22 September 2015 establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece and Council Decision (EU) 2015/1523 of 14 September 2015 establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and of Greece. (3) COM(2016) 720 final. (4) http://ec.europa.eu/echo/what-we-do/humanitarian-aid/emergency-support-within-eu_en (5) http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/proposal-implementation-package/index_en.html