Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is in continuous communication with the European Commissioner on Immigration issues and with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy over the issue of the recent flood of refugees and illegal migrants in Mediterranean shores.
Tsipras has asked that the European Commission and the leaders of Mediterranean countries come up with a plan to deal with the issue ahead of Thursday’s emergency European summit where immigration will be discussed.
Greece, Spain and Italy will present a joint proposal to the summit. Greece is also asking for emergency funding to improve the migrant accommodation infrastructure in order to deal with the flood of refugees and illegal migrants in its waters. Tsipras is also asking for a proportional distribution of refugees in countries of the European Union.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nikos Chountis and Deputy Immigration Minister Tasia Christodoulopoulou participated in the emergency meeting of EU interior and foreign ministers in Luxemburg on Monday. The Greek ministers also raised the issue of emergency funding to Greece and the proportional distribution of refugees.
European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos tabled a 10-point plan including joint sea operations “Triton” and “Poseidon,” additional funding, sending teams of the European Asylum Support Office to Greece and Italy and a common mechanism for repatriation for illegal migrants.
In order for emergency funds for immigration to be disbursed, Athens must come up with a comprehensive national plan to tackle the issue. The Greek government is preparing a plan that will be ready in a few days.
Two men accused of migrant smuggling face prosecutor over deadly shipwreck
Two Syrian men aged 26 and 27 are to face a prosecutor on Tuesday after migrants rescued from a shipwreck that claimed at least three lives off the coast of the southeastern Aegean island of Rhodes, told police they had paid the pair to arrange the trip from Turkey to Greece.
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