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Greece creates front with 6 other countries on immigration - "The actions of Germany will not be tolerated"

Featured Greece creates front with 6 other countries on immigration - "The actions of Germany will not be tolerated"

Athens is attempting to block Germany's unilateral actions that undermine the Schengen Agreement and throw the immigration ball to countries that are on the external borders of Europe, declaring that "this is not something that can be tolerated".

What Greece experienced in the period 2015-2017 with the numerous arrivals of immigrants trapped within Greek borders cannot be repeated, according to competent officials and that is why the government's reaction was immediate. “Greece does not border Germany, however, if all countries start doing this, does it mean that at some point the migrant will have to reach Greece? In Poland? In Bulgaria? In a bordering country - it entered from somewhere," said the Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis on television, describing the concern that exists.

It is no coincidence that Athens has begun to build alliances with countries on the front line in order to counter the Ovidian policy change that Germany is undergoing under pressure from the far right. Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland and Malta are on the same wavelength as Greece since they are the ones called to protect the Union's external borders and manage thousands of migrants arriving from Turkey and Africa. The bloc is determined to reject German pressure and appear united at the summit on October 17, when immigration and the German backlash are expected to be high on the agenda. What might the answer be? "Implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. A fair compromise between all European states, which recognizes the great importance we must give to the external guarding of the borders", stated Mr. Mitsotakis (Talk radio). To do this the funds need to be directed to the guarding of the external borders is the position he will put forward at the meeting with the German Chancellor in Berlin on October 14, where he is expected to be on the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans. The change in Germany's attitude was strongly commented on by the former Minister of Immigration, Notis Mitarakis, who called it "hypocritical of Germany to systematically blame Greece for the protection of the European borders and the prevention of illegal arrivals", while now "it wants to do the same, considering the humanitarianism is the exclusive responsibility of the first receiving countries, like Greece".

The Pact on Migration and Asylum reached by the 27 leaders after difficult negotiations is the road map that everyone should follow, according to the Greek position. Of course, it is still not in place because the issuance of regulatory acts remains, something that must now be accelerated. According to the provisions of the Agreement, as described by the Secretary General of Immigration Manos Logothetis, "there are countries where people will enter, they will be checked, they will be registered, they will apply for asylum. And if the numbers exceed the carrying capacity, i.e. the capacity of the country, which is declared for each year, then with an algorithm we will transfer the above world to other member states. If the member states accept these people they will go there to get asylum. If they don't accept them then member states should bear the cost in the country where these people live until they find their way in life."

The government is also on the alert for the flows, as there is a risk of a sharp icrease in the next period in order for traffickers to anticipate the implementation of the new measures. Already, the data shows that there has been a gradual increase recently. During the first seven months of 2024, they amount to 23,204 (3,607 in Evros and 19,597 on the islands) and are presented increased by 99% compared to the arrivals during the first seven months of 2023 which amounted to 11,672 (3,514 on Evros and 8,158 on the islands). In July, arrivals reached 4,696 and are shown to have increased by 41% compared to the 3,322 arrivals in July 2023 and increased by 60% compared to June 2024. In the period January – July 2024 2,600 migrants have arrived from Libya to Crete (100 in the same period last year), 4374 from Turkey in Tilos, Symi and Rhodes and 15,223 in Kos, Lesvos, Samos, Chios and Leros. In Evros, where the fence works as a deterrent, the number of arrivals is 3,607. Despite the spectacular, in terms of percentage, increase, competent sources note that the absolute numbers are completely manageable.