PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Refugees on the Greek – Turkish border (10 March 2020)

That this House expresses concern regarding the treatment of refugees in Greece and at that country's border with Turkey, the deterioration of conditions in refugee camps and the escalating violence towards refugees, journalists and aid workers in Greece; is profoundly concerned by the actions of the Greek authorities, including firing tear gas and repelling dinghies, and the decision of the Greek Government to temporarily suspend the registration of asylum claims which violates Greece’s responsibilities under the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees; is deeply troubled by the EU's use of dehumanising language, support for the Greek Government’s hostile approach to refugees, and failure to take its fair share of responsibility for refugees; notes refugees are entitled to seek safety in Europe under international and EU law; calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to urge their counterparts in European governments to respect international law, ensure all asylum seekers have access to fair and effective asylum procedures, and stop unlawful border control practices, such as pushbacks, collective expulsions and unlawful return; further notes with concern that the number of child refugees brought to the UK through the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement scheme is reported to have dropped by 30 per cent in 2019 and that the Government removed the commitment to work with the EU to resettle child refugees from the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill; and urges the UK Government to work with other European governments to quickly relocate asylum seekers currently located on the Greek islands, including via family and humanitarian visas.

Sponsored by:
Caroline Lucas (Green Party)