The need for the EU to develop relations with third countries, but in a coordinated and preventive manner, and not when there is a crisis, was pointed out, according to reports, by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in his intervention on Migration at the MED9 Summit.

According to the same information, the Prime Minister made special reference to the policy of active deterrence followed by Greece both on its land and sea borders, devoting a lot of effort and resources, a policy which, as he underlined, has acted as a deterrent and has limited the flows, sending the message to traffickers that it is difficult to reach Greece.

He noted that Greece will continue to follow this policy, but seeks cooperation with Turkey to limit flows.

Earlier, Mr. Mitsotakis had met with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. As he pointed out, Greece will remain consistent in border protection policy. It is noted that the meeting with Mr. Macron took place on the sidelines of the MED9 Summit in Valletta.

The two leaders exchanged views on the possibilities of cooperation in the field of technology for the prediction of extreme weather phenomena. Special emphasis was placed during the meeting on immigration and its importance guarding the EU’s external borders and cooperation with countries of origin.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that cooperation of member states is needed in order to prevent the departures and networks of traffickers to be discouraged from putting desperate people in boats and embark on a dangerous journey.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction for the defense cooperation of the two countries. The Prime Minister thanked Mr. Macron for France’s assistance in extinguishing destructive fires that hit our country in the summer, and repeated that the EU must do more to deal with natural disasters and adapt to the climate crisisin the spirit of the letter he has already addressed to the MED9 leaders.

During the meeting, issues of bilateral and European interest were discussed ahead of next week’s European Political Community Summit and informal European Council (5 and 6 October) in Granada. They were discussed still the latest developments in Ukraine.

Mitsotakis