The message that “Greece is not an open corridor to Europe” was conveyed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a statement to the German newspaper Bild, in relation to the government’s recent decisions on migration.
Mr Mitsotakis insists: “We are ready to work closely with the Libyan authorities in order to stop departures at the point of origin,” while clarifying that “we also need a unified European response,” explaining that “Greece remains committed to a fair and effective migration policy, including legal pathways for migration, but the current situation requires immediate action. And this is not only Greece’s responsibility — it is also Europe’s.”
Below is the full statement by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the German newspaper Bild:
“Faced with the sharp rise in irregular sea arrivals from North Africa, particularly from Libya to Crete, we took the difficult but absolutely necessary decision to temporarily suspend the processing of asylum applications for those arriving by sea from North African countries.
This decision sends a clear message — one that leaves no room for misinterpretation — to the migrant smuggling networks: Greece is not an open transit route. The journey is dangerous, the outcome uncertain, and the money paid to the smugglers is ultimately wasted. Illegal entries will not lead to legal settlement.
Our message is clear: Greece is not an open corridor to Europe. We are ready to work closely with the Libyan authorities so that we stop the departures at the point of origin.
But we also need a unified European response.
Greece remains committed to a fair and effective migration policy, including legal migration channels, but the current situation requires immediate action. And this is not only the responsibility of Greece — it is also the responsibility of Europe.”
Also read: Cyprus warns of alteration of its demographic identity by Turkey
Source: ANA-MPA
