For five years now, Greece has been at the forefront of dealing with it immigrant and implements a strict but fair policy on illegal immigration, the prime minister said Kyriakos Mitsotakis coming to European Council.

He even noted that both the European Council and the European Commission are getting closer to the Greek positions.

What is missing, the prime minister added, is an effective return policy, which he said is also recognized by the president of the Commission, who will be empowered for a more effective policy.

And here I should add, Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized, that returns must also be made to Turkey within the framework of the agreement that has existed with the EU since 2016.

Greece has dealt with the issue very effectively, which is why we can transfer our experience, concluded the prime minister.

The Prime Minister will take part in an informal meeting of leaders on the Immigration which is convened at the initiative of Italy, Austria and the Netherlands.

In detail, the Prime Minister stated: “At this European Council, we will be concerned with three issues. We will have the opportunity to talk with President Zelensky and hear his proposals regarding the victory plan he has formulated.

» I want to repeat the permanent position of Greece, which is also the position of the European Council, Ukraine will be the one to choose the time to start peace negotiations with Russia. But he must be able to do it from a position of strength and not from a position of weakness.

» We will have a first discussion about the competitiveness issueswhich we will examine in great detail at the informal European Council in Budapest. I want to reiterate the absolute support of the Greek government to proposals tabled by Mr. Draghi through its conclusion on the competitiveness issues of the European Union.

» We will also be very concerned about immigration issue. OR For five years, Greece has been at the forefront of implementing a very strict but fair policy to deal with the issues of illegal immigration.

» I am happy to note that gradually both the European Council and the European Commission have come very close to the Greek positions, giving great importance to the external dimension of the issue of illegal immigration and the effective guarding of the borders of the European Union.

» That which missing from our European strategy is an effective returns policy and I am particularly happy because this is something that is also recognized by the president of the European Commission, whom we will authorize, as it seems, to be able to submit innovative proposals to the council so that we can make the returns of those who are not entitled to asylum as possible effective.

» I want to remind that the returns must also be made to Turkey because this is also within the framework of the European Union – Turkey agreement from 2016.

So I am looking forward to a very substantial discussion on an issue that concerns all of Europe, but an issue that is not high among the problems that Greek citizens tell us that they are concerned about because, quite simply, Greece has been very effective in dealing with the issue of illegal immigration. I don’t believe that we can contribute substantially by transferring the Greek experience to the European Council.”