The Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, spoke about his contacts in Berlin when he entered the Western Balkans Summit.

“As part of today’s conference on migration and security in the Western Balkans, I had the opportunity to have a bilateral meeting with my German counterpart, last night, immediately after our arrival in Germany, Mr. Brent Kroeser, and I will have the opportunity today to hold further bilateral meetings with colleagues participating in the conference to discuss, outside of the issues of today’s conference, general migration challenges, especially after the latest developments in Germany.

To my German colleague, I emphasized that the spirit of the Schengen Treaties as well as the European Pact on Migration and Asylum must be respected in order not to be led down roads that lead to unilateral actions and thus be put at risk, not only the spirit of Schengen and the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, but the very spirit of the European Union.

I remember that our positions were understood, the discussion took place in a very good atmosphere of mutual understanding, I do not expect surprises, but at this juncture, which I think is quite critical for the future, not only of the management of immigration in Europe, but for the same the spirit of solidarity on which the European Union was built, it is important for our country, which received a lot of pressure and took on all the burden and more than what was due to it, to be very clear in the formulation of such positions.

Today’s conference will be spent on issues related to security and migration in the Western Balkans, but we will have the opportunity to communicate these positions. After all, migration and security in the Western Balkans is directly linked to the management of Migration at the level of the European Union“, emphasized Nikos Panagiotopoulos

Germany’s decision to implement border controls

Referring to Germany’s decision to carry out checks on the travel documents of those traveling to Germany by car, bus or train from five neighboring Schengen countries, he noted:

“Of course, this development also worries us, but let’s not forget that it is about the imposition of controls on Germany’s land borders with other European countries. So it’s not closing borders, let’s not dramatize the situation, but imposing controls. I remind you that the imposition of controls by the Germans, as well as by other countries, was in force before Germany announced what it announced a few days ago. Therefore, it would be good to be aware of the situation in its real dimensions, not to rush to dramatize situations and to continue to cooperate in the spirit of European Solidarity. After all, the European Pact, which is subject to the final approval of all member countries, expresses exactly this spirit of solidarity, on a complex problem that affects all countries, affects all European countries and of course countries like Greece, which have managed in much more dramatic terms since, as we said, we have lifted a lot of weight, we continue to lift, and essentially in the south we are charged as a country, with the safeguarding of the European borders. The borders of Greece are also European borders, and this should not be forgotten».

For the returns of asylum seekers

Referring to the issue of returns, the Minister of Immigration and Asylum noted that it is not the first time that Germany raises the issue of returns.

“And I remind you that according to European legislation, both with regard to the directive for the 90 days that those who have now received asylum have the right to travel within the Schengen country, there is an obligation to return them, but also according to the Dublin 3 regulation with those who seek asylum and have not yet been recognized, there is this obligation. So Germany has been putting this on the table for a long time. He did not remember it in the last week, due to a certain dramatic political pressure that this government is under now that the results of the state elections are coming out. In any case, however, we discuss everything in a climate of understanding and nothing is going to be done in terms of imposing one’s position on the other. We still have a long future ahead of us. Besides, the returns that have been made, minimal so far in Greece, are precisely minimal, because they are difficult. It is very difficult to trace and there is also the issue of the German courts which for the known reasons prohibits returns. Therefore, we still have a long way to go and it is good not to rush to jump to conclusions about the real dimensions of the problem“, added the minister.

Finally, when asked about Germany’s criticism of Greece’s practices at its external borders, the way checks were carried out and whether there is any change in its attitude, he emphasized that criticism has been leveled against Greece but, as he said , on the other hand, the great effort made by the country to create structures and procedures to manage immigration is recognized. At the same time, he added that:

“Now apparently Germany is probably making a shift in terms of its earlier perceptions of immigration. Here we go to find the best and I think we will find it. Greece did nothing but keep a difficult balance between protecting its borders and the European borders on the one hand and on the other hand rescuing people who are in danger especially at sea, welcoming them and registering them and this is a basic procedure for someone entering European territory to identify them and promote the process so that they are forwarded wherever they want to go. The process is that we used to go too slow now it is focused on what we probably go too fast With the processing if you like of these asylum seekers. In any case, however, the country is consistent with its European obligations and I think we should keep this. Greece is asking for nothing more, nothing less than the implementation of what organized Europe has decided after time-consuming procedures to find a way to deal with such a complex problem as immigration».