N. Mitarakis: The debate in the EU between logic and the European Left for Immigration

Greece does not have double standards for refugees. “Anyone who needs international protection receives international protection and the same social benefits as Greek citizens,” clarified the Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Notis Mitarakis, speaking at a panel at the 7th Delphi Economic Forum.

Commenting on the Commission’s decision to grant temporary protection to refugees from Ukraine after the Russian invasion, the Minister for Immigration and Asylum stressed that the EU “took a historic decision on the automatic recognition of those leaving Ukraine as refugees” and added that Second history is that we have abolished the Dublin Regulation on the arrival of displaced Ukrainians. Officially, the EU has no internal borders for people coming from Ukraine. and housing “.

Referring to the role of Frontex and the protection of the EU’s eastern borders, Mitarakis stressed that “Frontex is not a refugee reception committee. It is there to protect the borders. There are three key things. First, we must “Complies with international and European law. Second, to be a security force. Third, to govern and operate for the benefit of EU Member States.”

He added: “There are EU countries that believe that people who are recognized as refugees should not be free to move within the Union. We believe that there should be a common European area of ​​protection, based on common values ​​and “Europe still has a long way to go to create a framework for the return of those who are not entitled to international protection with security and dignity in their countries of origin.”

Describing the practices of traffickers in the Aegean, he stressed that “we can not leave unmolested the smugglers who have taken 100,000 euros each for each non-navigable boat they bring” and clarified that “Every boat leaving Turkey is a failure of the European Union to protect its borders “.

Notis Mitarakis conveyed the controversy over immigration taking place at European Union level and formulated it by saying “There is a strong debate in the EU between reason and the European Left. We are talking about strict policies and a Europe that will open its doors to people who There is another need. There are others who believe that Europe should not have borders and whoever wants to come in and out. Different countries, different views. Others believe that we need more control and less solidarity. Others want a more open immigration policy. “Others want open borders as long as they do not affect them. We need to reduce the total number of illegal arrivals in the EU.”

For his part, the head of Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, spoke about the dangers that exist on the border of Ukraine, based on international experience from older war zones. “In the aftermath of the war in Yugoslavia I had a lot of weapons and their trafficking. At some point this may happen in Ukraine, but at the moment it does not. “Many of those who leave Ukraine do not know that they have rights in the European Union.”

Source: Capital

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