Refugee flows increase by 33% in 1Q 2018

Mr Vitsas also added that by the end of April a new law would be passed to speed up and organize the asylum procedure.

The minister described the refugee  as a national issue that requires a common national line and announced a visit to Turkey for contacts with his Turkish counterpart, as forced returns are difficult. "We will take extra measures," he said and pointed out the need to demand as a country common asylum mechanisms in relation to the EU, greater staffing and solutions at the European level.

In response to a question by the competent new democracy shadow minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, he also made it known that legislative interventions would be submitted to the competent committee of Parliament. The aim is for Local Authorities to have more powers to deal with the problem and for this purpose a first discussion has already taken place with the President of municipalities union KEDE Giorgos Patoulis.

The ND MP also spoke of "hollow promises"  and urged the Minister of Migration Policy to send a message - through an advertising campaign - that Greece is not able to accommodate other migrants.