European Commission to announce additional support to improve living conditions for refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in Greece

Tomorrow, at the Thessaloniki International Fair, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides will announce additional funding to under the EU Emergency Support Instrument, together with the Greek Alternate Minister for Migration, Ioannis Mouzalas. “The European Commission continues to put solidarity into action to better manage the refugee crisis. The new funding has the key aim to improve conditions for refugees in Greece, and make a difference ahead of the upcoming winter.  Over the past months, we have significantly contributed to restore dignified living conditions, in cooperation with the Greek government and humanitarian organisations.  Together, we will continue our work until our job is done”, said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides. The new emergency support will come on top of the €83 million the European Commission has already provided earlier this year to international organisations and NGOs to address the most pressing humanitarian needs in Greece, including shelters, primary health care, psycho-social support, improved hygiene conditions as well as informal education and safe spaces for children and women. In urgent and exceptional circumstances such as the increased influx of refugees in Europe, the European Commission can fund humanitarian aid for people in need within the EU territory through the Emergency Support Instrument. Until 2018, €700 million of EU-funding will be made available via partner organisations, such as UN agencies, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations.