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 As European states have closed borders following the arrival of
nearly a million migrants by sea from Turkey last year, the Athens
government has appealed for help to house and care for tens of
thousands still arriving and now stranded in Greece.
The European Commission's proposal will, if approved, switch 300
million euros ($325 million) this year from its 155-billion euro
annual budget to the new Emergency Assistance scheme and 200 million
next year and in 2018.
Officials stress that the program, run by the department of the EU
executive which runs humanitarian relief programs outside the
28-nation bloc, will not divert funds from its 1.1-billion annual
budget devoted to helping the world's poorest.
EU officials note that relieving the suffering of refugees closer to
their homes is a key part of the Union's strategy to discourage
people from making dangerous journeys to Europe.
Greece has hitherto benefited from EU funding and assistance under
other programs to bolster its border and security systems and
coordinate donations of aid from fellow EU members, though Athens
has complained that offers have been inadequate.
The provision of funds that can be spent in conjunction with the
United Nations and private charities working in Greece and other EU
states is intended to ensure aid reaches people in need fast and in
adequate quantities. The funds can be spent on tents and other
shelter, food, medical aid and other basic services.
Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Christos Stylianides told a news
conference that the funds were needed to cope inside the bloc: "The
number of refugees continues to rise, so do their humanitarian
needs. All of this is happening inside Europe.
"This assistance will be immediately available." "OVERWHELMED"
The budget, EU officials say, is based on an assessment of needs
drawn up with member states and U.N. agencies. Greece, its economy
blighted by the euro zone debt crisis, has asked for 480 million
euros to help cope with 100,000 migrants.
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The new program, to be a permanent feature of the EU budget, is
intended for use by any EU state that is "overwhelmed" and cannot
cope with a wide range of emergencies, including accidents, militant
attacks and epidemics. It will need approval by the European
Parliament and member states.
Greece, the main gateway to Europe where more than 20,000 people are
stranded now, would initially be the main beneficiary of the
emergency scheme, which would give swift access to money for
"tackling wide-ranging humanitarian crises within the EU".
The money would also be available to other EU countries along the
Balkans migration route -- the main track used by refugees and
migrants arriving in Europe from Turkey via Greece and then heading
north to wealthier EU states, notably Germany.
More than a million people reached Europe last year and some 133,000
arrived on the continent so far in 2016 in what has grown to be a
major crisis for the bloc, testing its security systems as well as
founding principles of unity and solidarity.
Struggling to put the flow of people under control, countries along
the Western Balkans route have tightened their borders, leading to a
build-up of people in Greece that is turning into a humanitarian
disaster.
(Editing by Alastair Macdonald)
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