The Delivery-Reception Ceremony between the new Minister, Maki Voridis and the outgoing Nikos Panagiotopoulos, as well as the new Deputy Minister Sevi Voloudakis and the outgoing Sofia Voultepsi, was completed in the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum.

During his first speech at the ministry, the new Minister, Makis Voridis, referred to Nikos Panagiotopoulos in warm words: “Nikos is a competitor and a friend. This is a change within the government, in the context of ordinary changes. There is no major issue. There are changes to the faces. This does not mean that someone has done something less or something more or has not gone well. On the contrary, the feeling we all have from the government’s term of office of both Nikos and Wisdom is completely prosperous. The reasons for these changes concern the prime minister exclusively. “

The new minister also gave the mark of the policy he would follow, stressing, among other things: “I have clear, specific and powerful ideological views on migration. These specific and powerful views I think have been depicted today with the prime minister’s position on the cabinet. The command is to do the right and the most to any extent we can to deal with illegal immigration and this means to organize returns in the most effective way. This is a great European debate. “

“The issue of managing illegal immigration is now intensively and pressing, and we have many actions ahead of us to implement,” the minister added, stressing: “The issue concerns our stance at European level. We have great matches ahead of us. It is clear that the attitude of societies towards illegal immigration changes. “

Referring to legal immigration, he underlined: “Legal immigration means that we decide who comes, from where, to what number, for how long and under what conditions. Those who are legally entering our country must live according to our traditions, respect our values, our identity, our cultural heritage and the place that hosts them. These are the terms for organizing legal immigration and therefore in these great ideological -political axes it is that we will develop the debate next time. “

Outgoing Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, began his speech, stressing: “There is a steady in this case: no office holds forever. The question is, whether your term is short or long, the time you have been given to be useful and productive. I think I did my duty, I leave with my head high and today’s day marks the next chapter of my life -a new, sunny principle. “

Referring to the nine months of his term, he said that significant work was produced and the ministry described the ministry complex and complex, demanding constant management of small and large crises. He made special reference to the management of flows, “both migratory and finance”, as he typically noted, in European funds and the “dowry” of € 500 million, allocated to finance the needs of the system. “At the end of 2024, thanks to an over -effort, 98m euros were paid for urgent needs in order for the system to remain up,” he said.

Addressing the new Minister Mr. Voridis, Mr Panagiotopoulos said: “We have led the debate at European level at a critical juncture, highlighting that migration is primarily a matter of security. I think this policy will continue and be reinforced by the presence of Maki Voridis. I have complete confidence that he will do so. ” In closing, he said: “If at some point I was a problem or at least part of the problem, with my departure it will cease to exist and everything will evolve at a smooth and effective pace.”

During the Delivery-Paracesis Ceremony of the Deputy Ministers, the new Deputy Minister, Sevi Voloudakis, expressed her optimism about her cooperation with Mr Voridis, continuing the work of the ministry and noted: “Our country has made enormous progress in the management of immigration and immigration. With hard work, perseverance and walking in the remarkable footsteps of our predecessors, we can achieve even more. “

Outgoing Undersecretary of State Sofia Voultepsi made a report of recent years in the ministry and began her speech, stressing: “They say that farewells are bitter. But not always and not all the times. For over four years, the prime minister has given me the opportunity – and, as it turned out, and the time needed – to lay the foundations in an area unknown and misunderstood in Greece. A sector that was hit before it was even born because of the negative past in dealing with the migration crisis during the two years 2015-2016 and afterwards. ” Concluding, she wished her successors, Maki Voridis and Sevi Voloudakis, welcomed them, assuring them that they will be at their disposal for any help they need and pointed out: “We have the national duty to protect our homeland, which because of its geographical location. And we have the obligation to do it all together. “