Call for tenders by the Greek Migration Ministry for the construction of closed camps on Lesbos and Chios
16.6.2021
Priority question for written answer P-003179/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Erik Marquardt (Verts/ALE)
On 28 May 2021, the Greek Ministry for Migration and Asylum published a call for tenders for the construction of the new ‘multi-purpose reception and identification centres’ planned for Lesbos and Chios. A total of EUR 142 million has been set aside for the project. The call for tenders explicitly states that these will be ‘closed, controlled structures’ and that they will be 100% funded with European Union money. It also says clearly that the planned projects will directly implement EASO standards. The deadline for project completion detailed in the call for tenders is 8 months from the signing of the contract. Finalisation this year therefore seems impossible. Moreover, protests on the islands have prevented any construction work taking place for over a year.
- 1.What is the current schedule of the joint steering committee for completion of the camps on the islands?
- 2.Is there a mistake in the call for tenders which needs to be corrected, or is EU money now being used for the construction of closed camps?
- 3.The minimum standards set out in the Reception Conditions Directive are still not being applied at the Mavrovouni ‘temporary’ camp. How does the Commission justify the fact that seekers of asylum in Europe will again have to spend next winter in the disgraceful conditions of a tented camp, in spite of annual promises since 2015 that the situation would be resolved?