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EEAS: EEAS: Syria: Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell – Upon request by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has called an extraordinary Foreign Council for next week on developments in Syria and the situation at the Greek borders. In his statement, Borrell says that the EU-Turkey statement needs to be upheld and confirms EU support to Greece and Bulgaria in addressing the unfolding situation at their the borders with Turkey.
See also: Ekathimerini: Greek PM hails ‘statement of support’ from EU institutions.
EU BORDERS: Ekathimerini: Thousands of migrants rush to cross Greek-Turkish border – Several thousands asylum seekers were trying to find a way across Turkey’s western border with Greece. A small part managed to pass either via border fences or the river, after Turkey opened its side of the frontier. Greek police made use of tear gas to prevent people from entering. According to Ekathimerini the people were holding white flags and shouted “peace, peace,” asking to be let through. Others were trying to reach Greek islands from the Turkish coast, with one dinghy capsizing, leaving one child dead, Greek authorities said.
SEARCH & RESCUE: Ekathimerini: Child dies as migrant boat capsizes off Lesvos – A child died and 47 people were rescued after their boat capsized off the Greek island of Lesvos, the Greek coastguard said on Monday. At least 1,000 people have reached Greece's Eastern Aegean islands since Sunday morning, a police official told Reuters.
EU-AFRICA: Euractiv: ‘Partnerships’ to be at heart of EU-Africa strategy, leaked paper reveals – According to a leaked draft outline of the EU-Africa strategy to be formally launched in early March obtained by EURACTIV, the EU will seek to put a series of policy-themed ‘partnerships’ at the heart of the future cooperation. Although containing little substance, the draft foresees changes in the overall narrative on Africa and focuses engagement on Partners for Sustainable Growth and Jobs; for a Green Transition; for a Digital and Data Transformation; Peace, Security, Governance and Resilience; Migration and Mobility; and Multilateralism.
GREECE: Ekathimerini: Lesvos island locals prevent migrants from disembarking – Greek media reports that Inhabitants of the island of Lesvos have gathered in several places to prevent people arriving to the island by sea from disembarking and prevent buses carrying them from reaching the Moria camp. Some of those present have also shouted abuse at the local representative of UNHCR, the United Nations' refugee agency.
GREECE: Ekathimerini: Greece freezes asylum applications from illegally entering migrants – Greece's government spokesman Stelios Petsas announced that starting from last Sunday, Greece will not accept for a month asylum applications from “migrants entering the country illegally and, where possible, will immediately return them to the country they entered from”. Greece will also ask the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to engage in a rapid border intervention to “protect” Greece's borders. The above decisions will be communicated to the EU's Foreign Affairs Council so that Greece can benefit from temporary measures to face an emergency.
GERMANY: DW: Germany's new labor immigration law explained – As of March 1, a new law will facilitate the immigration of qualified workers to Germany. Contrary to previous legislation, a skilled worker is no longer restricted to a person with a university or college degree but also includes those with a vocational training certificate.pMoreover, it will be no longer the case that people from outside the EU can only take a job if there is no German or EU citizen who is able to do it instead.
Alarm Phone: At the Greek-Turkish border, politicians play with people’s lives – In this statement, the NGOs w2eu – infomobile Greece and WatchTheMed Alarm Phone, which run a hotline for boat people in distress at the Mediterranean, comment on the situation at the Greek-Turkish borders. Despite this current escalation, they stress that push-backs and violent excesses along the border are daily phenomena. As they commonly target smaller groups, civil society does not usually see how human rights violations unfold and authorities prevent people from exercising their right to ask for asylum. They call for solidarity with people claiming their rights and stand up together with locals against these repressive policies.
Times of Malta: 'I want to restart the EU's migration debate from scratch' – The European commissioner for home affairs was in Malta last week to discuss the Commission’s announced Pact on Asylum and migration. In this interview, Ylva Johansson answered questions about sea rescues, relocations and a secret Libyan deal. Asked whether the pact will include any legally binding mechanisms she responds that a Common European Asylum System needs legislative elements but the form that solidarity between member states will take remains to be defined.
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With kind regards,
Hannah Berwian
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Disclaimer:
Please note that the information of the press review is taken from publicly available information provided by media companies, organisations and blogs. All the sources are clearly ascribed and ECRE is not claiming any authorship over the content. The Press Review does not necessarily reflect the views of ECRE. This document is just a relay to the original articles and makes it easier to find stories concerning asylum issues. If you are the publisher of some of the information and would like it removed from this document, or if you would like to see a particular story published in the Press Review, please email: hberwian@ecre.org
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