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EU commissioner slated for claiming refugee crisis is over

Wednesday, 07 July 2021 11:49 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 07 July 2021 11:49 PM ]

Jerome Hughes

Press TV, Brussels

Latest figures from the International Organization for Migration show, so far this year, 898 refugees have died in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to reach EU soil. That's three times more compared to the same period last year. The subject has, yet again, just been debated in the European Parliament.

That remark by EU Home Affairs Commissioner, Ylva Johansson, has inscened many lawmakers. Legislators and rights groups highlight reports that EU countries such as Greece and Italy are aggressively pushing refugee vessels away from their shores.

Other EU nations like Austria and Hungary have closed their borders to these desperate people. A €6.3bn fund has been agreed by the European Parliament to help member states manage the refugee issue. The EU is continuing its policy of sending billions of euro to Turkey and Libya so that authorities there prevent the flow of refugees to the 27-nation bloc.

Campaigners say, at no point since the crisis started in 2015 has the EU taken responsibility. They say the main source of the problem relates to attempts by Western powers to destroy and take over Syria. Now, EU leaders are being urged to show some compassion and solidarity.

However, rights groups say that as wishful thinking. Anti-refugee politicians, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, have the power to veto any proposals that are presented here.

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