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N. Mitarakis: Guarantee of permanent decongestion of the islands and the country is the travel contract

The Standing Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and Justice of the Parliament was informed by the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Mr. Notis Mitarakis about the project “Provision of travel services for Third Country Citizens (PTC)”, before the conclusion of the relevant contract.

The Minister of Immigration and Asylum, addressing the members of the Commission, characteristically stated that this project creates a “decongestion corridor for the whole country, from the islands to mainland Greece and from mainland Greece abroad. A corridor that will be utilized further and at European level, as our country is at the forefront of the negotiations for the European Immigration and Asylum Pact “, adding that” Greece seeks to consolidate solidarity as a key element of the new Pact and to gradually form a common area of ​​protection in the “This means moving within the continent with speed and flexibility. That is what the framework agreement we are discussing today offers us.”

During his speech, the Minister also referred to the government’s commitment to continuous and consistent decongestion of the islands, noting that “with the travel contract and the network of structures already operating in mainland Greece, we can be consistent in our commitment that the structures of islands shall not exceed 50% of their capacity “.

Mr. Mitarakis stressed the strategy of decongestion in Athens and Thessaloniki where, as he characteristically noted, “emphasis is given”, underlining “the closure of the structure of Eleonas and the transfer of residents to Schistos, but also the termination of the ESTIA program. the housing program positions will be limited to 10,000 from 27,000 available in 2021, with the prospect of the program being completed by the end of 2022 ”.

At the same time, he analyzed the positive results of the convention, emphasizing that it ensures “a balanced distribution of asylum seekers across the country below the target of 1% per region”, characterizing it as crucial for travel abroad, according to the Dublin Regulation.

Regarding the terms of the contract, Mr. Mitarakis said that “an open international tender was held, based on article 27 of law 4412/2016, based on the most economical offer, with a duration of four years, with a total annual value of 7,741,244, with option of up to 30% of the contract value, while it will be financed from EU funds “.

The competition, as pointed out by the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, for the movement of third country nationals covers the following needs:

1. Road transport of all kinds within the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros

2. Ferry trips from the islands to the mainland

3. Road Transport of all kinds in mainland Greece and Crete

4. Air travel within Dublin from Greece to Abroad, after the completion of the existing corresponding contract that the Ministry has today.

“So, a very important convention for the decongestion of the islands, the urban centers and our country in general, in the framework of the European solidarity provided by the Regulations. The Ministry of Immigration and Asylum makes the transparency a practical act in the management of national and co-financed resources” , concluded Mr. Mitarakis.

Source: Capital

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