“We wish to express our joint determination to pursue a European approach to the refugee crisis”, Dutch Minister for Migration Klaas Dijkhoff and European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said in a joint statement on Tuesday 23 February 2016. They made this declaration following the European Council and ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 25 February 2016.
For the Dutch Presidency of the Council and the European Commission the current problem is “the developments along the Balkan route and the humanitarian crisis that might unfold in certain countries especially in Greece”.
“We are concerned” and “we understand the pressure the different countries are facing”, added the signatories. However, “all countries involved have a responsibility and obligation to respect the European rules and put an end to the ‘wave through’ approach. While doing so, governments should take into account the effects in neighbouring countries.”