Cyprus-Forum.com

[supporttheunderdog]

In fact - here is an update report of the EU Commission trying to stop those MEDIA rumours spread by the likes of Erolz and STUD:

Today, EU officials felt the apparent need to clarify the situation over the so-called deficiencies in Greek border checks in order to put to rest the outrageous exaggerations made by Greek media outlets over the future of Greece in the Schengen zone.

A European Commission source explained that the report in question had identified certain problems in the handling of refugees by Greek authorities last November, but that the situation had improved markedly since then, although more improvements were still needed.

The same source also mocked Greek media’s expulsion exaggerations by saying that people seem to forget that Greece has “no land borders with the rest of the Schengen area.”

Greekreporter.com/2016/01/29/

When it is a report from the official EU press office, which I quoted from, then I will may be give more credence, but one report from a private Greek mass media outlet, possibly with an agenda of its own, as all private outlets have, I will treat with a much regard as you have treated other mass media outlets.

I otherwise stand my ground. Greece was warned that if there were viloaltions, as were found, then unless remedial action was implemented then steps would be taken. I note yourself admit the situation has improved: that is how it should be, then hopefully the sanctions outlined need not be implemented.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Blah blah blah ... *monkey see monkey do* is that all you can reach out to for as support for your idiotic fantasies. You should be up there with erolz, supportingdirtydog, you muck-spreading anti-Greek propaganda merchant that was the instigator of some of the most venomous anti-Greek posts during the 'good-ole' days when screaming "Grexit" still supposedly *held* some water and was all the rage. Porous brained twit!

[GreekIslandGirl]

The lies spread by the likes of Erolz and STUD continue to be quashed:

2nd February 2016
Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili stressed that "the question of Greece withdrawing from the Schengen accords has never been posed" at an EU level.

"Greece has fulfilled its European obligations, despite the great difficulties involved," she insisted, adding that this had been "clearly recognised" on the margins of an EU-Turkey summit on Sunday.

Several European sources in Brussels also denied that Athens had received any Schengen threats from the EU institutions, while admitting that some capitals were less than happy.

YahooNews

The hypocracy of gIGgle knows no bounds, as she crticises eg the treatement by eg Sweden of migrants, but is happy to say "Amen" to the words of a Greek Politician who wanted to send such migrants back home....

Unlike Sweden, Greece never invited these migrants. Unlike Sweden, Greece didn't suddenly change its mind, close its borders and let others deal with the problems it (Sweden) helped create. Greece has had years of illegal migrants from e.g. Albania. It didn't need more. It didn't ask them over .... unlike Sweden!

[erolz66]

Unlike Sweden, Greece never invited these migrants. Unlike Sweden, Greece didn't suddenly change its mind, close its borders and let others deal with the problems it (Sweden) helped create. Greece has had years of illegal migrants from e.g. Albania. It didn't need more. It didn't ask them over .... unlike Sweden!

So we have a country like Sweden that historically and for many years has widely been considered a world leader in terms of its policies towards accepting immigrants and in their fair treatment within Sweden once accepted, that in response to the worse migration crisis the EU has ever seen, is tightening it's historic policies with regards to immigration and for that it is condemned by GiG for it's "appalling treatment of migrants", whilst countries that have historically always had a much poorer record on immigration and most off whom have also responded to the worst migration crisis the EU has ever seen by changes to their historic immigration policies, are 'excused' and free of any censure.

Welcome to the mad mad world of GiG.

[GreekIslandGirl]

Unlike Sweden, Greece never invited these migrants. Unlike Sweden, Greece didn't suddenly change its mind, close its borders and let others deal with the problems it (Sweden) helped create. Greece has had years of illegal migrants from e.g. Albania. It didn't need more. It didn't ask them over .... unlike Sweden!

So we have a country like Sweden that historically and for many years has widely been considered a world leader in terms of its policies towards accepting immigrants and in their fair treatment within Sweden once accepted, that in response to the worse migration crisis the EU has ever seen, is tightening it's historic policies with regards to immigration and for that it is condemned by GiG for it's "appalling treatment of migrants", whilst countries that have historically always had a much poorer record on immigration and most off whom have also responded to the worst migration crisis the EU has ever seen by changes to their historic immigration policies, are 'excused' and free of any censure.

Welcome to the mad mad world of GiG.

I don't care for images! These are testing times and, IMHO, Sweden has failed to live up to its image!

[erolz66]

I don't care for images!

The list of things that you do not care for, when they do not suit you, is legion.

[Pyrpolizer]

Imo you guys both failed to see deeper into this.
The reality is they don't want those refugees in Europe.
That's why a number of EU states already impose border control.
You should both point to the EU hypocrisy regarding this issue, and not whether the EU hypocrites threatened or not Greece.
It DOESN'T MATTER if they threatened her or not.

What matters is that those hypocrites just try to hide their true face by looking for ways to stop it.
This is the reason they are strengthening Frontex, and this is the reason for the moment they concentrate on
bureaucratic issues that Greece has to follow. The aim is clear. To stuck those refugees for as much time as possible in Greece itself.
This should discourage more flow of refugees.
Another way is to lubricate Turkey to do it for them. What are all those 3 billions for after all?

Don't you understand this is what they are trying to do?
Simply because they are such hypocrites they can't spell it the way it is.

Remember it is those same Europeans who destroyed Cyprus's economy for their own reasons, by imposing measures on us
that were never imposed on any other country.
And you still have faith in them???

[miltiades]

Of course they don't want refugees !!!
Europe has gone crazy, the future generations will pay the price, These are not the refugees of years gone by. They are a different type of a refugee or immigrant,

Whats wrong with Saudi Arabia, Dubai, UAE, and many more ME countries who share their culture.
I know, they don't offer housing and benefits on the plate, refuges/ immigrants know this, Europe is their paradise !!

[GreekIslandGirl]

Imo you guys both failed to see deeper into this.
The reality is they don't want those refugees in Europe.
That's why a number of EU states already impose border control.
You should both point to the EU hypocrisy regarding this issue, and not whether the EU hypocrites threatened or not Greece.
It DOESN'T MATTER if they threatened her or not.

What matters is that those hypocrites just try to hide their true face by looking for ways to stop it.
This is the reason they are strengthening Frontex, and this is the reason for the moment they concentrate on
bureaucratic issues that Greece has to follow. The aim is clear. To stuck those refugees for as much time as possible in Greece itself.
This should discourage more flow of refugees.
Another way is to lubricate Turkey to do it for them. What are all those 3 billions for after all?

Don't you understand this is what they are trying to do?
Simply because they are such hypocrites they can't spell it the way it is.

Remember it is those same Europeans who destroyed Cyprus's economy for their own reasons, by imposing measures on us
that were never imposed on any other country.
And you still have faith in them???

I completely agree with you. What I do not want to see go down in history is that Greece was responsible for any of this mess. Once again Greece is being scapegoated and too many anti-Greek Turks and suchlike are jumping with glee and exaggerating or even directly lying over any possible bad news.

[supporttheunderdog]

Greece has been put on notice that it must get its act togther or measures may be taken. There is clear warning of what those measures might be.

The Commission is however working with Greece to avoid that.

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-211_en.htm

Commission adopts Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece and proposes recommendations to address deficiencies in external border management

Strasbourg, 2 February 2016

Commission adopts Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece and proposes recommendations to address deficiencies in external border management

Following a positive opinion by the Schengen evaluation committee on Friday, the College of Commissioners has today adopted the Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece and a proposal for a Council Recommendation on addressing the serious deficiencies identified in the evaluation report on the application of Schengen rules in the field of management of the external borders by Greece. The recommendations will be submitted to the Council for adoption.
The Schengen evaluation mechanism, established in October 2013, provides for the verification of the application of the Schengen rules through monitoring visits to a given Member State by Commission-led teams with experts from Member States and Frontex. The Schengen evaluation report for Greece and the Proposal for a Council Recommendation has been drawn up jointly by Member States experts and Commission representatives.
Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said: "Our ability to maintain an area free of internal border controls depends on our ability to effectively manage our external borders. Today we are proposing a set of recommendations to ensure that, at all external borders of Greece, controls are carried out and brought in line with Schengen rules. At the same time, we take note of the efforts of the Greek Authorities to improve the situation and are reminding that all parts of the Commission's comprehensive plan need to be applied to face the unprecedented pressure at Europe's external borders. The objective of the European Commission and of the Member States is to safeguard and strengthen Schengen. We will only save Schengen by applying Schengen."
The recommendations seek to ensure that Greece applies all Schengen rules related to management of external border correctly and effectively. Recommendations are made in a number of areas such as the improvement of the registration procedures, including ensuring a sufficient number of staff and fingerprint scanners for registration and verification of migrants and their travel documents against SIS, Interpol and national databases. Greece should provide the necessary facilities for accommodation during the registration process and launch return procedures for irregular migrants who are not seeking asylum and who are not in need of international protection. Border surveillance should be improved, including the establishment of a risk analysis system and increased training of border guards. Improvements should also be made to infrastructure and equipment at the border crossing points.
In order to ensure compliance with these recommendations, the Commission may, in addition, recommend that Greece takes certain specific measures under Article 19a of the Schengen Borders Code, given the serious deficiencies noted in the Schengen Evaluation Report.
Schengen Evaluation Mechanism
Schengen evaluations are carried out in Member States based on a multi-annual and an annual evaluation programme. Such visits can be announced or unannounced.
Following each visit, a report is drawn up identifying any shortcomings and this is accompanied by recommendations for remedial action, with a deadline for their implementation. The recommendations are submitted by the Commission to the Council for adoption. As a follow-up, the Member State in question is required to submit an action plan setting out how it intends to remedy the weaknesses identified. Member States can be assisted in fulfilling the recommendations via practical and/or financial measures from the Commission, Frontex or other EU bodies.
The Eighth bi-annual report on the functioning of the Schengen area of 15 December 2015 already announced that, depending on the results of the Schengen evaluations in Greece, specific measures as referred to in Article 19a and 26 of the Schengen Borders Code may be recommended.
Procedures addressing exceptional circumstances
If a Schengen Evaluation Report concludes that the evaluated Member State is "seriously neglecting its obligations under the Schengen rules" and if there are "serious deficiencies in the carrying out of external border control", the Commission can propose recommendations, to be adopted by the Council, for remedial action to address any deficiencies identified during the evaluation. In order to ensure compliance with these recommendations, the Commission may, under Article 19a of the Schengen Borders Code, recommend that the evaluated Member State take certain specific measures, which may include the deployment of European border guard teams or the submission of a strategic plan setting out how the Member State will deploy its own personnel and equipment to address the concerns. The Commission's proposals must be adopted by a Committee of the Member States, acting by qualified majority. The evaluated Member State then has three months to complete the remedial actions.
Where, after three months from the adoption of the Council recommendations, serious deficiencies persist and the measures taken have not proved sufficient to ensure the adequate remedy of these deficiencies, the Commission may trigger the application of the procedure provided for in Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code.
Under Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code, if the measures under Article 19a have not been effective, the Council may, based on a proposal from Commission, recommend that one or more Member States reintroduce border controls at all or at specific parts of their internal borders as a matter of last resort, to protect the common interest of the Schengen area. The Council recommendation needs to be adopted by qualified majority.
Under Article 26, and in the exceptional circumstances described above, controls can be reintroduced for a period of up to six months. This measure can be prolonged for additional six month periods up to a maximum duration of two years.