The main pillars of the draft law of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum for irregular migration were presented in his secondary at the first meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and Justice, by the Minister of Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris. Mr Plevris placed particular emphasis on criminalizing illegal residence and increasing returns: ‘There is no longer possible To stay in Greece for 7 years and acquire legal documents. This has been removed.

In addition, now there is a criminal offense. This means that you who are not a refugee and your asylum has been rejected, You are now facing the offense of illegally staying in the country while you can return. Consequently, I come and tell you that you have the following options: either to go to the Criminal Court and to a 2 to 5 -year prison sentence, which will be applied in its entirety, or utilize the opportunity given to you through the European Union and the International Organization for Migration, returning.

Mr Plevris made it clear that the bill concerns those who abuse the asylum procedure, are falsely appearing as refugees, coming from countries that do not justify international protection. “A man who is not a refugee has come exclusively for economic reasons and says ‘I do not return’. There the new frame is activated: Administrative detention, electronic surveillance and criminal offense of illegal residence ‘, emphasized. At the same time, he pointed out that the new bill does not concern refugees who are entitled to international protection. “Anyone who receives asylum is a refugee. It is in international protection. The bill does not regulate anything for them. In Greece, applications are now examined in the first degree in 35 days, when it took two years in the past.

The minister in particular referred to the issue of returns, stressing that Greece is first implementing disincentives that make it clear that there is no prospect of legalization. “To this day there was expectation: I will remain, I will work informally, I will have years and will be legalized. This is over. With the new framework returns will increase. The voluntary returns, initiated by the immigrant himself and with the support of the European Union, are much more than the forced. We give the motivation to choose this path. “

He also stressed that the new institutional framework fully incorporates the European Union guidelines: “Greece is proactively implementing provisions of the new European Rules of Procedure, such as shortening of deadlines and the possibility of returning to temporary residence. The Geneva Treaty does not give the right to choose a country of asylum; it provides protection in the first safe country. One cannot start from Afghanistan and apply to Canada. “

Mr Plevris also underlined that the new policy is directly linked to the need to protect public order, security and social cohesion: ‘There is nothing inhumane to asking someone who is not refugee to return to his country, when you give him the ability to support through European programs. On the contrary, it is fair, it is necessary and is an obligation of the state to its citizens. ” In closing, he stressed: “This is an organized framework that clearly separates the refugee from the economic immigrant. Anyone who is refugee is protected. Whoever is not, returns. So simple. Greece is open to those in need of protection, but permanently closes the door to illegal immigration. We become from the first countries to criminalize illegal stay by sending a clear message: We give international protection to those who are entitled to it, but we cannot accept illegal immigration for granted. “

Speaking on the bill, which – among other things – criminalizes the illegal stay, after the completion of the administrative procedure, the Minister of Immigration and Asylum Thanos Plevris said that in the days preceding the amendment to asylum in early July, they were sent to them: It tightens its framework, do not go there, move to Greece and Crete – Gavdos. It is the safest trip and has a flexible frame, “the message was, according to Mr. Plevris. “When you have the information that suddenly, the circuits are starting to make an aggressive move, you will react. Both with diplomacy, and with the best protection, and with deterrence and legislation. That is why you see that the reduction of flows went and scale. They entered the beginning 913 (after the amendment), but then, along the way, they entered below 500. When the other (illegally entered) saw that it was implemented, when it arrived, he entered Amygdaleza … He entered the closed structures, which we gave to the police … “Here, you have told us we will come asylum we will go free, and we will go …” was the picture given by the illegal entries, “Mr Plevris said, noting that the amendment to suspend asylum was necessary, as you could not accept 500 people a day.

In addition, Mr Plevris announced that by the end of the year, the law on legal immigration would be tabled, as there are many citizens with which Greece cooperates with, but they prefer the illegal route due to cost and bureaucracy.

On the part of the opposition, PASOK rapporteur Nadia Giannakopoulou spoke of communication -type arrangements addressed to audiences coming from leafy ND: “The provisions of the bill will prove to be thick words for domestic consumption.”

A straight shot in the rule of law was described by the SYRIZA-PS speaker, George Psychogios. He called on the government to withdraw it immediately, as “legislation in violation of the Constitution and international obligations weakens the country and exposes it internationally”.

The KKE market, Diamanto Manolakou spoke of an abrasive bill, accusing the government of contributing to the promotion of racist and xenophobic hatred, making scarecrows to perpetuate her authoritarianism.

The closure of all NGOs, presented as “Solidarity with the indemnity”, was requested by Greek speaker Vasilis Grammenos.

In the old days you would say to drown them, now you are telling them to be hell, said the new leftist Dimitris Tzanakopoulos.

The president of Freedom Freedom, Zoe Konstantopoulou, said about the collapse of international law, stressing that the bill is against human rights. “You can’t appear as big criminals, oppressed people,” said Ms Konstantopoulou.