Euro-Parliament passes amendment supporting Union financing for fortified fence extension in Greece’s Evros region

The prospect of EU financing for the extension of a fortified fence, along the Greek side of the Evros River and land border with Turkey, was revived on Wednesday, as a relevant amendment tabled by the European Peoples Party (EPP) in the Euro-parliament was approved.

Voting in favor of the amendment were 322 MEPs. The legislation calls for resources to be immediately allocated towards boosting infrastructure on the Union’s external borders. Conversely, 290 MEPs, including ones from Greece’s leftist SYRIZA party, voted against the amendment. Twenty European Parliament deputies abstained.

The developments means that the issue will now be submitted in the European Parliament’s plenum, but with the approved amendment included.

In terms of opposition to the fortification extension, another draft amendment prominently supported by Greek MEP Dimitris Papadimoulis, who is elected from SYRIZA, was voted down.

The approved amendment notes, among others, the importance of enjoying substantial control of the EU’s external borders, while unequivocally condemning attempts to instrumentalize migrants, especially in the context of “hybrid destabilizing actions”.

Wording in the amendment also welcomes the conclusions of the European Council February 2023, in particular paragraph 23, by which the Commission is invited to immediately mobilize significant EU funds and instruments. to support member-states in strengthening border protection capacities and infrastructure, means of surveillance, including aerial surveillance, and equipment recalls that the fundamental rights of migrants must be respected.
In a later reaction, Greek MEP Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, who is elected with center-right New Democracy (ND) party, stated that “…Today the European Parliament gave a resounding response, as the Papadimoulis amendment not to fund the Evros fence was defeated and the European People’s Party amendment allowing the funding of relevant infrastructure was passed; we continue, for Greece”.

Conversely, a statement by SYRIZA referred to the “…political adventurism of the EPP and its alliance with the extreme right and ultra-conservatives … who torpedoed the EP guidelines for the 2024 EU budget and led to their rejection in plenary…”