The government’s overall plan for migration and for supporting local communities that shoulder the greater part of the burden from refugees and migrants was presented by government spokesperson Stelios Petsas and Deputy Defence Minister Alkiviadis Stephanis on Wednesday, according to ANA
Petsas said that the government has planned out a different policy for managing refugees and migration. “We seek, in principle, to internationalise the issue and formulate a common European policy. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has raised the issue in all his contacts with European leaders at the United Nations and the EU Summit. We stress the need for accountability and solidarity, increasing the role of Frontex, changing the Dublin framework, shaping a common European asylum policy, but also the fair sharing of the burdens,” he said. Petsas stressed that the government’s policy is based on four principles: more effective border protection, speeding up the processing of asylum applications, increased returns for migrants and closed pre-departure centres.
As the government spokesperson said, the law on speeding up and tightening procedures for examining asylum applications has already been passed and the government will establish closed pre-departure centres. “A clear message must be sent to those who are planning or thinking of entering the country illegally despite knowing that they are not entitled to asylum. They must understand – as the prime minister has repeatedly emphasised – that if they give their money to a trafficker to bring them to Greece, they will spend their money for nothing,” he pointed out.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Irish Defence Forces
