Immigration: Greece, asking EU for deal with Ankara
Obligation needed for immigrant's countries to reabsorb them
(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, APRIL 25 -
The European Union must take steps to tackle the emergency of immigration in Greece and must sign the readmission treaty with Turkey, from whose border 90% of illegal immigrants heading for the EU arrive, according to Michalis Chrisochoidis, the Greek Minister for Civil Protection, who made the appeal to the European Parliament's home affairs commission.
''We want obligations from Europe for deals with third-party countries from where migration flows arrive,'' Chrisochoidis said.
''We want obligations from Europe for deals with third-party countries from where migration flows arrive,'' Chrisochoidis said.
''The countries will therefore be forced to reabsorb their citizens, which at the moment they do not do at all''.
Underlining the serious humanitarian crisis in the country, the Greek minister described the old centre of Athens as a stomping ground for drug traffickers and criminal networks who enrol illegal immigrants. The minister asked for ''cooperation'' from all member states.
Underlining the serious humanitarian crisis in the country, the Greek minister described the old centre of Athens as a stomping ground for drug traffickers and criminal networks who enrol illegal immigrants. The minister asked for ''cooperation'' from all member states.
The main problem is Turkey, which in exchange for the signature of the readmission agreement is demanding the liberalisation of visas for the Schengen area for Turkish citizens.
In the meantime, Chrisochoidis explains, Ankara does not demand visas and opens its doors to citizens of other countries, such as Algeria or Somalia, who subsequently arrive in Greece.
Athens is ''determined'' to protect the country's borders, while Chrisoidis says that ''isolated initiatives'' to close national borders within the EU to push immigrants away, such as those mooted during the French election campaign, ''are unacceptable''.
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