It shook me. It shook me seeing thousands of children, women, men, elderly and disabled people endlessly waiting in miserable conditions in the wild campsite Idomeni on the Greek-Macedonian border. More than 11 thousand people are reluctant to accept the reality that the border is definitively closed. That they will be transferred to the other centres in Greece as soon as possible, if there is enough of them. When there the traumatic process of many years of either obtaining the status of asylum in Greece or relocation to one of the 'safe countries' will continue. The concept of which is flawed in itself as every individual should have the right to apply for asylum wherever he or she chooses.
Asylum procedures can only be launched via Skype (!) and could last up to 10 years at the moment in Greece, therefore migrants do not even apply for it, the relocation if requested - prevents them from leaving the country - does not work, while family reunification became extremely tough in the EU. Whoever does not opt for one of these options will be returned to a "safe country".
But those refugees who arrived on the Greek islands after the 20th of March have it even worse, when the agreement between the European Union and Turkey came into force. They are currently held in detention centres, or so-called 'hot-spots' on the five islands administered by the Greek police. Only Syrians and Iraqis there may apply for relocation. The rest are supposed to be returned to Turkey or apply for asylum in Greece. But there the situation is already impossible. Closure of the Balkan route has left around 49 thousand refugees trapped across Greece. Most of them are barely scraping by in the 33 reception centres and many wild campsites on the mainland and in overcrowded detention centres on the Greek islands.
This week the agreement with Turkey faces its first serious test. Greece should start returning migrants from its islands, although it is still not clear exactly whom this applies to. Those who have not applied for asylum or those who wish to return voluntarily? Or will the return simply be compulsory for some? On top of this, locals in Turkey are now also resisting the resettlement.
The United Nations Refugee Agency, Doctors without Borders have stopped activities on the islands as they fear the Greek islands are turning into prisons. In highly guarded 'hot-spots' behind wire fences people do not have any legal assistance and are not entitled to a fair asylum procedure. Moreover, due to lack of space the first riots have already erupted.
In the detention centre Moira on the island of Lesbos the newcomers are impatient. They did not know they will be imprisoned and threatened with return to Turkey. I could not have imagined this at the 'gateway' to the EU. During my visits to camps on Lesbos, in Athens and the Greek Macedonian border many representatives of the Greek authorities and non-governmental organizations have confessed that that the agreement with Turkey will not work, and even worse, that it violates human rights.
The most catastrophic humanitarian situation we have experienced was in Idomeni and the port of Piraeus. The latter, where more than five thousand people camp illegally without any facilities, the Greek authorities want to empty before the tourist season begins. The same goes for Idomeni, where in the last week they have managed to displace about 700 people in the surrounding centres. But there are simply not enough of them. Greece is trying its best and at every step one could whiteness solidarity and understanding of the people, the army, the police and the number of volunteers. People were bringing food and basic necessities, even if it was just a bag of oranges for children. Every time a refugee child came up to me, hugged me with eyes glowing and a broad smile it crushed me. I felt powerless.
I am ashamed Europe is not able to do more. What has happened to us Europeans, to all those who do not feel the despair and distress of people fleeing wars and poverty? For that they cannot blame themselves, but the Western world, and us too. What happened to the European leaders, institutions, politicians, individuals, those who today are not able to take at least some responsibility? Are we going to allow the project of a united Europe, the Union, as an advocate of human rights and democracy in the world, to allow these rights to be trampled on at our very own doorstep?
Are we really going to sacrifice all that we have built in the decades after the Second World War - the area of freedom, prosperity and peace - at the expense of two million refugees? The economic and financial crisis and resulting unemployment and poverty have eroded many of our moral and social principles. But in every crisis there comes a time when we have come together and find solutions. There are no easy answers. A refugee crisis is not an issue where politicians should be divided or trying to score political points. It is a situation where we must live up to our responsibilities. To the children who are increasingly becoming the victims of human trafficking, smuggling and abuse. To the women and the most vulnerable people, who are struggling to survive. It is simply a matter of aid to fellow human beings.
When I left Greece last night after three days and returned to Brussels, I only had one thought. What if everyone who spreads fear, intolerance and xenophobia could spend a day with refugees? What if they tried to understand their fate and share their fears? Something like this may happen to us or to children in the future. And it did happen to us Slovenians. What you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself and to your loved ones. And I am not proud of wired fences and closed borders, and I am humiliated I do not have enough mechanisms to change the world for the better. But I shall try even if it is just in small steps forward.
I wish wholeheartedly that wisdom and intellect prevail in the Union. There is still time. But joint efforts are needed. From everyone and everywhere. We have experience and knowhow, let us share them. Solidarity knows no boundaries. Once we realize this, we can again be proud Europeans.
Until then the slogan on the banner greeting newcomers at the entrance to wild campsite in Idomeni will continue to apply for the majority of European countries: "Human rights do not apply here."