Activities of Barbara MATERA related to 2015/0125(NLE)
Plenary speeches (1)
Provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece (A8-0245/2015 - Ska Keller) IT
Amendments (11)
Amendment 34 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In its resolution of 28 April 2015, the European Parliament reiterated the need for the Union to base its response to the latest tragedies in the Mediterranean on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility and to step up its efforts in this area towards Member States which receive the highest number of refugees and applicants for international protection in either absolute or proportional terms and called for a binding mechanism of distribution of refugees among Member States.
Amendment 45 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) According to data of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (Frontex), the Central and Eastern Mediterranean route were the main areas for irregular border crossing into the Union in 2014. In 2014, more than 170 000 migrants arrived in Italy alone in an irregular manner, representing an increase of 277% compared to 2013, including more than 26.100 children, of whom around 13.000 were unaccompanied (7.6% of the total migrants arrived). A steady increase was also witnessed by Greece with more than 50 000 irregular migrants reaching the country, representing an increase of 153% compared to 2013. Statistics for the first months of 2015 confirm this clear trend in respect of Italy. In addition, Greece has faced in the first months of 2015 a sharp increase in the number of irregular border crossings, corresponding to more than 50% of the total number of irregular border crossings in 2014 (almost 28 000 in the first four months of 2015 in comparison to a total number of almost 55 000 in 2014). A significant proportion of the total number of irregular migrants detected in these two regions included migrants of nationalities which, based on the Eurostat data, meet a high Union level recognition rate (in 2014, the Syrians and the Eritreans, for which the Union recognition rate is more than 75%, represented more than 40% of the irregular migrants in Italy and more than 50% of them in Greece). According to Eurostat, 30 505 Syrians were found to be irregularly present in Greece in 2014 compared to 8 220 in 2013.
Amendment 66 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) The measures foreseen in this Decision entail a temporary derogation from the criterion laid down in Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the procedural steps, including the time limits, laid down in Articles 21, 22 and 29 of that Regulation. Child rights principles and the best interest of the Child should be the primary consideration in all procedures put in place.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The provisional measures are intended to relieve the significant and unmanageable asylum pressure from Italy and Greece, in particular by relocating an import significant number of applicants in clear need of international protection who have arrived in the territory of Italy and Greece following the date on which this Decision becomes applicable. Based on the overall number of third- country nationals who have entered irregularly Italy and Greece since January 2014 and the number of those who are in clear need of international protection, a total of 450 000 applicants in clear need of international protection should be urgently relocated from Italy and Greece. This number corresponds to approximately 40% of the total number of third country nationals in clear need of international protection who have entered irregularly in Italy and Greece since January 2014. Thus, the relocation measure proposed in this Decision constitutes fair burden sharing between Italy and Greece on the one hand and the other Member States on the other hand, on the basis of the solidarity principle. Based on the same overall available figures in 2014 and in the first four months of 2015 in Italy compared to Greece, 60% of these applicants should be relocated from Italy and 40% from Greece.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) When deciding which applicants in clear need of international protection should be relocated from Italy and Greece, priority should be given to vulnerable applicants, children for instance, within the meaning of Articles 21 and 22 of Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council10. In this respect, special needs of applicants, including health, should be of primary concern. The best interests of the child should always be a primary consideration. 10 Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast) (OJ L 180, 29.6.2013, p.96).
Amendment 91 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) In addition, in order to decide which specific Member State should be the Member State of relocation, specific account should be given to the specific qualifications of the applicants concerned which could facilitate their integration into the Member State of relocation, such as their language skills. In the case of particularly vulnerable applicants, and particularly in the case of unaccompanied minors, consideration should be given to the capacity of the Member State of relocation to provide adequate support to those applicants.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 26
Recital 26
(26) In addition, in order to decide which specific Member State should be the Member State of relocation, specific account should be given to the specific qualifications of the applicants concerned which could facilitate their integration into the Member State of relocation, such as their language skills and other specific competences and skills that could be relevant for the labour market of the Member State of relocation. Member States should therefore facilitate an effective recognition of diplomas, qualifications and skills of asylum seekers. In the case of particularly vulnerable applicants, consideration should be given to the capacity of the Member State of relocation to provide adequate support to those applicants.
Amendment 100 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 26 c (new)
Recital 26 c (new)
The principle of non-discrimination laid down in Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be fully respected during the whole relocation procedure. Discrimination on grounds of sex, age, ethnicity, disabilities and religion is a clear violation of the Treaty.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) The appointment by Member States of liaison officers in Italy and Greece should facilitate the effective implementation of the relocation procedure, including the appropriate identification of the applicants to be relocated, taking into account in particular their vulnerability and their specific qualifications and skills.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a decision
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) The legal and procedural safeguards set out in Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 remain applicable in respect of applicants covered by this Decision. In addition, applicants should be informed of the relocation procedure set out in this Decision and notified with the relocation decision. Considering that an applicant does not have the right under EU law to choose the Member State responsible for his/her applica, as recalled by Article 33 of the International Migration Convention, t. The applicant, should have the right to an effective remedy against the relocation decision in line with Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, only in view of ensuring respect of his/her fundamental rights.
Amendment 111 #
Proposal for a decision
Article 1
Article 1
This Decision establishes binding provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece in view of enabling them to cope with an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries in those Member States.