European Council President Charles Michel said he refuses to "paper over this migration challenge," after visiting Lesvos on Tuesday.
He was accompanied by Greece's Migration and Asylum Minister, Notis Mitarachi.
Michel said that the "by the end of the month, the European Commission intends to put new concrete proposals on the table. And we need to be more committed in order to be more efficient."
He also noted it was important to improve EU border controls and to have more partnerships with third countries.
Διαβάστε το Δελτίο Τύπου του Υπουργείου Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου για την επίσκεψη του Πρόεδρου του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου, κ. Charles Michel, στο προσωρινό Κέντρο Υποδοχής και Ταυτοποίησης της Λέσβου:https://t.co/Wp0avwVsuX#ΥΜΑ #μεταναστευτικό #μόρια #λέσβος pic.twitter.com/iGrjvNPyCL
— Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης & Ασύλου (@migrationgovgr) September 15, 2020
"We need to make progress to have more convergence in the framework of our asylum policy. We will have difficult debates, but we need to be more efficient," Michel said.
On his part, Greece's Migration and Asylum Minister said "Today the EU must show that it can find solutions to the common problem and also that it offers tangible solidarity to the first host countries."
Earlier, the Minister of Civil Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis announced that arsonists of the Moria camp have been detained.
Five young foreign nationals were arrested while another, who has been identified, is still at large,” stated Chrisochoidis.
He also congratulated the police officers on Lesvos and noted that “the arrests disprove the scenarios of the extremists.”
I'm deeply moved by the difficult situation of those stranded on #Lesbos. The EU won’t turn a blind eye to the challenge.
It's our responsibility to support frontline countries & Greece.
Migration requires a coherent EU response based on values bringing us together.#MoriaCamp pic.twitter.com/rSQPepGVTY
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) September 15, 2020
On Tuesday night, a fire broke out at Moria Camp on the island of Lesvos at approximately 2 am after clashes began when some of the 35 refugees who tested positive for Covid-19 refused to move into isolation with their families.
The island of Lesvos was declared in state of emergency for four months, by order of Deputy Civil Protection and Management Crises Minister Nikos Hardalias and the general secretary of civil protection Vassilis Papageorgiou.
Thousands of homeless Moria camp residents will be temporarily housed in boats, navy ships & tents.
