Europe’s response to migratory problem it cannot be the unilateral abolition of Schengenthe prime minister repeated on Thursday Kyriakos Mitsotakisexpressing his disagreement with Germany’s move to extend controls to all land borders in order to reduce irregular immigration.

“The answer may be a fair compromise to guard the European borders. We should not drop the ball on the countries of first entry,” noted the Prime Minister in a radio interview on Talk Radio.

“Since the people trusted us, the ND government has followed a fair and strict policy of protecting the country’s borders. Greece defended the European border at the Ebro and it was the first step in a systematic effort to convince the whole EU that if we cannot limit the number of people crossing the border, we will not be able to deal with the issue of secondary flows. And since then Europe has adapted to this issue” he said and continued:

“This policy had the effect of reducing the entry of immigrants from the border and normalizing the image on the islands (…) We sent a message that the traffickers will not be in command.”

The prime minister also added that cooperation with Turkey is necessary on the issue and is satisfactory, as the neighboring country has received the message that the instrumentalization of immigration will not be tolerated by Greece and Europe.

According to the prime minister, the Greek Coast Guard has saved thousands of people and it is derogatory to peddle conspiracy theories against it. However, he said, the Coast Guard is not an immigration agency. “There is only active deterrence, no push backs”, added Mr. Mitsotakis.

For water tariffs

To a question about an increase in EYDAP tariffs, the prime minister replied: “We are not going for increases in water. I’m telling you. It is and will remain cheap in Greece for reasonable consumption. We won’t bother with the invoices. The maximum we are discussing is an adjustment to the level of inflation that no one will even understand in the accounts.”

Referring specifically to Attica, he said that “it does not face a water shortage problem, but we had two very bad winters, the stock dropped by about 30%”. He added that Attica is still enduring four bad winters with this water.

“But we have to be prepared. Therefore, immediately with EYDAP we have decided to transfer water from the artificial lake of Kremaston. We will connect a reservoir with Mornos and Evinos so that we are secured in a 3-6 year horizon”

The prime minister mentioned that the islands have a bigger problem. “And there we can have better coordination, so that each island does not make its own leases, but it is done more centrally. I’m talking about water supply, not irrigation.”

Income support against accuracy

Mr. Mitsotakis, speaking about the accuracy, said that all the government’s interventions converge in supporting incomes and dealing with profiteering, while he said that the business tax and employer contributions will be further reduced and thus income will be stimulated.

Prices have increased significantly in recent years, Mr. Mitsotakis said, but he added that this happened everywhere.

He emphasized that the salary increases will continue at faster rates than inflation and noted that the best social policy is the policy that creates jobs, saying that 500,000 new jobs were created in all sectors. He emphasized that the unemployment benefit will be examined and said that the one who can find a job is not allowed to live on benefits such as the unemployment benefit.

For her tax evasion he said that an effort is being made to connect the databases to combat it, while he emphasized that it is not reasonable for a freelancer to live with a salary of 250 euros per month.

Regarding the US elections and the recent telefight, he said that the winner was Kamala Harris and added that he will work with whoever the Americans choose, while recalling that he worked with both Trump and Biden.

Finally he referred to equipment programs and said that Greece must invest in its Armed Forces so that it can defend its sovereignty at all times. The stronger Greece is defensively, the more confident it will sit at the negotiating table, said Mr. Mitsotakis. He added that the core of Turkey’s revisionism has not changed and stressed that our country will not make any concessions from its armaments program. “We are not afraid of anyone. The complex relationship with Turkey obliges us to spend more money on our defense than a Central European country” concluded Mr. Mitsotakis.