On the final day of the 140th plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, the President of the Podkarpackie region in Poland, who is also the President of the ECR Group in the CoR, Mr Władysław Ortyl took the floor in a debate on immigration policy, specifically as it relates to the situation in Moria. On September 8th, a fire was set in the Moria refugee camp, which is located on the island of Lesbos in Greece. This resulted in about 12,000 migrants being left homeless amid unsanitary conditions and in an area with an increased risk for COVID-19 transmission.

Speaking on the situation, the ECR President said: "The unimaginable and tragic situation for many asylum seekers was worsened even further by the loss of their homes in this fire. Reports of this event touched all Europeans deeply, including those in local level and regional governments."

Mr Ortyl went on to discuss the CoR's declaration on the Moria situation and underlined how it confirmed the need for support. He specifically agreed with the fact that the CoR's declaration emphasises the need for all forms of assistance, even on the local and the individual level.

During the debate, Mr Władysław Ortyl praised the actions of charities and churches throughout Poland and Europe in providing assistance for the migrants, saying: "Donations were organised by churches throughout Poland to help provide basic commodities for the people in Moria. These charitable acts were a gesture of solidarity, not only solidarity with Europe, but solidarity with people who are without shelter, especially orphans and minors."

The ECR President pointed out that while the Visegrád countries are often accused by some EU politicians of not doing enough to help with the migration crisis, these countries have been helping prepare the necessary infrastructure to accommodate immigrants evacuated from the Moria camp. He noted that for instance Poland has prepared 156 modular homes to be sent to Greece to alleviate some of the burden.

Marshal Ortyl concluded his speech to the plenary by stressing that a relocation scheme cannot become the response to the crisis, saying: "Adopting an EU relocation mechanism would mean an increase in the influx of immigrants in the long term, and thus an increased number of dangerous journeys and an even greater overcrowding of camps in Southern Europe. Doing this would lead to the outbreak of future humanitarian crises. We must instead secure our external borders across all sections and provide more aid for countries and regions in Southern Europe."