Harakopoulos in the Parliament of Sweden: Sanctions in Turkey for the exploitation of immigrants

“Greece is a country on the European borders. Located at the crossroads of three continents, it is a key gateway for migration and refugee flows from Asia and Africa. Every year, thousands of immigrants attempt to enter the country illegally, not only with the tolerance of neighboring Turkey, but with the help of the Turkish authorities, as has been proven time and time again. Ankara’s policy aims at putting pressure on Greece, in the context of a more general revisionist policy, using refugees and immigrants as tools. And at the same time he uses them as a lever of blackmail towards the EU to achieve political and economic benefits”. This was emphasized by the chairman of the Standing Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and Justice of the Parliament, MP for Larissa of the New Democracy, Maximos Harakopoulos, speaking to the members of the Justice and Social Security Committees of the Swedish Parliament, which are responsible for immigration issues.

Mr. Harakopoulos is making an official visit to Stockholm, with the Secretary of the Commission, Member of Parliament for Kozani of the ND, Stathis Konstantinidis, in the context of information on the Greek positions on the immigration and refugee issue in view of the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU in the first semester of 2023.

The Thessalian politician, referring to the new Pact on Migration and Asylum in the EU, pointed out to the Swedish parliamentarians the need for solidarity in the management of immigration. As he said, “it is not possible for the frontline countries, the countries of the southern European borders, to shoulder the entire burden of managing the issue by themselves. There should be apportionment with proportional resettlement, together of course with the reinforcement of Frontex to guard Europe’s borders and returns to countries of origin and transit. Unfortunately, since 2020, Turkey does not implement the joint statement with the EU and does not accept refunds.” He also underlined that “as the EU, we must bend to the problem at its source, in the countries of origin of the refugees and immigrants. To have an impact on the ground, with specific policies that will give incentives for development, to keep people in their homes. But also to take decisions on sanctions against third countries in response to attempts to use immigrants for political purposes. All these parameters of solidarity between member states and respect for human rights must also be reflected in the new Pact on Migration and Asylum in the EU.

“We support Sweden’s accession to NATO”

The Greek MPs also had a meeting with the head of the Sweden-Greece Friendship Group of the Swedish Parliament, member of the Social Democratic Party, Lars Mejern Larsson and other members of the Group.

During the meeting, held in an excellent atmosphere, there was an exchange of views on immigration, developments in Europe and the issue of Sweden’s accession to NATO.

In his address, Mr. Harakopoulos referred to the long-standing friendly relations between Greece and Sweden and Athens’ support for Sweden’s request to join NATO, as well as Finland’s. As he said, “we completely understand your concern after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the revival of historical revisionism in Europe. Greece faces similar revisionism from Turkey, which threatens us with a casus belli if we expand our territorial waters, in accordance with international law and the law of the seas, claiming the demilitarization of the Aegean islands, while facing them with the Aegean army”.

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