Press Release: Commission discusses draft Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece

On 27 January 2016, the European Commission discussed a draft Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece.

The draft report was based on unannounced site visits to the Greek-Turkish land border and to Chios and Samos conducted from 10 to 13 November 2015. The report looked at the presence of police and coast guard personnel on the inspected sites, the efficiency of the identification and registration process, sea border surveillance and cooperation with neighbouring countries.

The draft report concluded that Greece was seriously neglecting its obligations and that there were serious deficiencies in the carrying out of external border controls that must be overcome.

The Greek government responded angrily to the findings. In an exclusive article published on the 29 January 2016 the Greek government accused the European Commission of trying to 'isolate' the debt-ridden country, and claimed that the report had been politicised and tampered with.

ESO: Background information: Greece threatened with expulsion from Schengen over migration crisis / Schengen on the rocks http://www.europeansources.info/record/schengen-on-the-rocks-greece-threatened-with-expulsion-from-schengen-over-migration-crisis/

BBC News, 27.01.16: Migrant crisis: EU threatens Greece with border controls http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35416741

Politico, 27.01.16: Greece ‘neglected’ border controls http://www.politico.eu/article/greece-neglected-border-controls-migration-reception-dombrovskis-refugees/

Euro|Topics: Debates, 27.01.16: Greece under growing pressure in the refugee crisis http://www.eurotopics.net/en/152568/greece-under-growing-pressure-in-the-refugee-crisis

Kathimerini, 27.01.16: Greece 'seriously neglected' Schengen border duties, Commission finds http://www.ekathimerini.com/205464/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-seriously-neglected-schengen-border-duties-commission-finds

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

EUObserver, 27.01.16: Greece 'seriously neglected' border controls, says EU https://euobserver.com/justice/132023

EurActiv, 28.01.16: Tension grows between Brussels and Athens over Schengen rules http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/tension-grows-between-brussels-and-athens-over-schengen-rules-321380

Deutsche Welle, 27.01.16: Greece pressed to improve Schengen checks http://dw.com/p/1HknK

The Guardian, 27.01.16: Greece hits back after EU's Schengen threat http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/27/greece-warned-control-borders-schengen-european-commission

EUObserver, 28.01.16: Greece says it 'surpasses itself' in migrant crisis https://euobserver.com/migration/132031

EurActiv, 29.01.16: Greece calls Commission’s Schengen report 'politicised' http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/greece-calls-commissions-schengen-report-politicised-321398

Human Rights Watch: Press Release, 28.01.16: EU/Greece: Share Responsibility for Asylum Seekers https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/28/eu/greece-share-responsibility-asylum-seekers

Spiegel Online International, 29.01.16: Greek Registration Centers: Why Refugee 'Hotspots' Aren't Working http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/problems-with-migrant-registration-centers-in-greece-a-1074372.html

EurActiv, 29.01.16: Belgium asked Greece to ‘push immigrants back’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/belgium-asked-greece-push-immigrants-back-321428

Politico, 29.01.16: EU migration chief: ‘We’re not dropping Greece’ http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-migration-chief-we-are-not-dropping-greece-refugees-asylum-seekers-schengen/

---