Mr. Christos Stylianides:

I thank the members for their questions and views. They are constructive in our assessment regarding the situation.

I would like to clarify something from the beginning. I am Commissioner for humanitarian aid.

My role, especially on the ground, is to find ways to provide humanitarian assistance. It is important to act within the framework of humanitarian principles. As this role is important in reaching refugees and migrants, sometimes I have to be very impartial and have no political engagement. Sometimes, frankly, I avoid stating anything which might more or less destroy my impartiality and neutrality. That is why some of the members' questions are difficult for me to discuss, as it might be difficult for me to visit any country to exert pressure behind the scenes for it to provide assistance. For me, the major and moral obligation is to find and reach vulnerable people.

I agree with Deputy Darragh O'Brien in his concerns about some of the controversial aspects of the EU-Turkey agreement. Many aspects of the agreement have faced many criticisms. At the same time, there are specific figures in the agreement which are completely positive for refugees and migrants. First, the influx from Turkey to Aegean Islands and the deaths on Turkey's shores were frustrating because of the image of Alan Kurdi on the beach. Because of the agreement, fortunately, we have minimised the deaths on Turkey's shores and the Aegean Islands.

Many times in politics, as members know better than me, the dilemma lies between idealism and pragmatism. As a politician, I am always pragmatic because I strongly believe in practical results and outcomes, which is important for me. As a politician in Cyprus, I always believed in the pragmatic approach in all aspects of our political activities. Regardless of the criticisms, the EU-Turkey agreement remains the only way to deal with this unprecedented crisis. Otherwise, because of our disagreements within the institutions, we would have many approaches. That is why, in a pragmatic way, we decided to sign the agreement to cope with this unprecedented situation. That is the only way and why, as European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, I try to find solutions to provide assistance to make a difference on the ground. Last week in Turkey I announced the largest humanitarian project ever funded by European funds, a €348 million cash voucher scheme, through which we believe we will reach over 1 million refugees in Turkey. It will deliver cash on prepaid cards to meet basic needs, including education, shelter and rent. I strongly believe this is the only dignified way to provide assistance for refugees.

We found through our implementing partner, the World Food Programme, that we have very good collaboration with the Turkish authorities, particularly the Turkish Red Crescent, Türk Kzlay. Without their collaboration, there is no way to reach vulnerable refugees. Above all, the alleviation of the suffering of vulnerable people is important. That is why we chose the pragmatic way to mitigate the suffering of the people. We have had negotiations with the Turkish authorities to reach this new state of play. Now the situation is getting better. I realise there are many shortcomings and problems, but I strongly believe it is better to give assistance through difficulties than to stay far away from the problem and discuss only principles and values. That is my political philosophy. I have to be pragmatic to reach solutions on the ground. That is my role. I am a doer. I want to be someone who reaches solutions, not just discuss them. That is why I insist on this happening through some of the controversial aspects of the agreement, regardless of its shortcomings.

Until now EU member states did not respond in a better way to give the impression that the European Union could deliver on this issue. At the same time, through the institutions, we must insist on reaching a common EU position. That is the only way to create coherence and increase and improve our reserves on the ground.

The situation is not one where I, as Commissioner, am in charge. However, I note certain points and statistics. The situation is improving compared to where matters stood a month ago. In terms of relocation from Italy, there was no figure as such two months ago. In the interim, however, 1,189 people have been relocated. This is the beginning of the process. By 27 September, 4,455 people had been relocated from Greece. While this is not the ideal figure, it seems we have already started to meet our obligation to conclude our commitments through this process.

I note to Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan my view on the attacks on humanitarian workers and against international humanitarian law. They are completely unacceptable. This is why the European Union insisted - through me - at the last World Humanitarian Summit, or WHS, that our common position is to ensure that international humanitarian law is increasingly capable of putting political pressure on everyone to respect such law. Unfortunately, we cannot achieve our ambition in the WHS but we have seen some improvements. The situation on the ground, especially in Aleppo in Syria and in Iraq, is disappointing. The most recent development has been attacks on and bombardment of medical teams and facilities, which is completely unacceptable. As someone who comes from a medical profession, I note how catastrophic this development is. This is why the European Union is putting pressure on the Assad regime - through all of our instruments and interlocutors on the ground - to find solutions and to protect at least basic medical facilities. This is why we are trying, through our initiative with Federica Mogherini, to find ways to provide medical evacuation from east Aleppo to our hospitals in order that health care for wounded children, women and elderly people can be provided. I share the Deputy's concern and disappointment about this matter.

I was asked specifically about unaccompanied minors and those with disabilities. For unaccompanied minors, we allocate specific money and have many projects in Turkey and Greece. To date, we have allocated €25 million in Greece for 12 specific projects designed to provide social support to unaccompanied minors and to create specific shelters which are child-friendly in order to keep them safe and avoid sexual abuse or similar activities. It is a tragic aspect of the situation. However, through the projects and our humanitarian partners on the ground and in collaboration with the Greek authorities, I am sure that there have been improvements and that we can deliver more attention to unaccompanied minors in particular. In many areas globally, including Iraq, Syria, South Sudan and the Lake Chad region, we have provided a lot of EU-funded projects which provide specific assistance to people with disabilities. I am proud that DG ECHO and our partners always insist that the sensitive issues of unaccompanied minors and people with disabilities are addressed.