Both the Minister and the Commissioner “reaffirmed their commitment to combat the activity of illegal immigrant trafficking networks that exploit human suffering” is indicated in a relevant press release of the Presidency of the Government

The Minister of State Stavros Papastavrou met with the Commissioner for Internal Affairs of the European Commission, Ylva Johansson, at the Maximos Palace. The meeting takes place in the context of the Commissioner’s participation in an event-discussion at the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum.

Both the Minister and the Commissioner “reaffirmed their commitment to combat the activity of illegal immigrant trafficking networks that exploit human suffering” is indicated in a relevant press release of the Presidency of the Government.

Mr. Papastavrou praised the initiative of the European Commission for the creation of a global alliance with the aim of combating migrant trafficking, saying that “it is an undertaking that must be transformed into actions immediately, while it is a central issue that must attract global support”.

The Minister proposed the creation of a network of national coordinators to combat migrant smugglers, which the Commissioner welcomed and committed to look into. While he emphasized that “we need a new legal framework that prevents and suppresses the trafficking of immigrants. The old – 20 years old – framework must be modernized and the international cooperation framework must be strengthened.”

Finally, Mr. Papastavrou spoke about the need to create an effective, European framework for immigrant returns, which, as he said, must become “more effective and more practical. Returns are not a bilateral issue, but a European issue. And as such it should be treated” he characteristically concluded.