The European Commission has not announced any funding or discussed the possibility of funding for the refugee crisis-hit islands contradicting press reports in the Greek media.
Fielding questions during a press conference on the issue, the Commission’s spokesperson Natasha Bertaud said on Tuesday that there were no talks about any funding support for the islands of Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos during last week’s visit to the European Commission of their respective mayors.
Bertaud was responding to press reports in Greece which claimed the islands affected by the refugee crisis had secured financial assistance totalling 50 million euros to boost growth.
"As you know, the five mayors of the Aegean islands – Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos – were in Brussels last week on 7 March and, as you say, they had several meetings here in the Commission. There was, however, no discussion regarding additional funding possibilities specifically for the islands,” she said, adding that what was discussed was the possibility of organising a visit of European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Crețe to the islands to look at what is possible under the European Social Fund.
Bertaud also noted the Commission has already made available one billion euros in financial support for Greece to manage the migration situation through the Home Affairs funding and the Emergency funding strands, as well as through the Emergency Support Instrument.
“And as you know, a lot of this money is channelled to the central Greek authorities or to our international partners and NGOs working on the ground,” she added.
