Varvitsiotis from Brussels: “Europe cannot exist without a comprehensive immigration policy”

Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis expressed his sadness and condolences to the Turkish people after the devastating earthquake early on Monday, attending the EU General Affairs Council today, pointing out that this tragic event highlights the need for neighbors to tend helping each other.

With regard to the migration issue, which is on the agenda of the discussions of the SGY ahead of the European Council, Mr. Varvitsiotis emphasized that Greece’s red lines concern the guarding of the borders. As he characteristically said, “there cannot be a Europe without a European immigration policy and there cannot be a European immigration policy that does not have European solidarity at its core, a coordinated system of guarding the European borders in all possible ways and of course a regime for the returns to third countries”, adding that many of the people who fall victim to traffickers unfortunately pay for this journey with their lives, as yesterday’s tragedy in Leros showed.

Mr. Varvitsiotis also noted that the EU, while it has succeeded in recent years in showing unity and solidarity in the central issues and major crises it has faced, has lagged behind in the issue of immigration, which is why our country is coming forward with positive proposals. Answering a question from an Austrian journalist on the subject, he pointed out that the border fences bring results and should be financed by the European Commission, as they prevent illegal crossings and put a barrier on traffickers’ networks.

Finally, Mr. Varvitsiotis mentioned that the SGY will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the ways to support the Ukrainian people in their just fight for their national sovereignty, as well as the Ukrainian economy winterized by the war. He also noted that ways to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness will be discussed, stressing that it should not remain idle in the face of state aid policies from both the US and the East, which are changing the global economic map.

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.