Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced key migration policy decisions on Monday following his meetings with European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship; Dimitris Avramopoulos and government ministers including Citizen Protection Minister; Michalis Chrisochoidis, Alternate Citizen Protection Minister responsible for Migration Policy; George Koumoutsakos and Minister for Shipping and Island Policy; Yiannis Plakiotakis.
The key policy initiatives the Mitsotakis government has set as priorities and will be implemented with the close cooperation and technical assistance of the European Commission include:
- The immediate improvement of living conditions for refugees and migrants in Greece, especially vulnerable groups, with top priority given to the protection of unaccompanied children.
- Strengthening the protection of the common Greek and European borders, especially the maritime borders, with a new integrated plan that will put the European force under Greek command with clear operational rules of action. It should be noted that this plan includes a better use of Frontex forces, more frequent Coast Guard patrols and improvements in its equipment and means, as well as the full use of European resources with full transparency.
- The reform by the end of 2019 of the institutional framework for asylum, aiming at short, fair and efficient delivery.
- Faithful implementation of the EU-Turkey Joint Declaration for managing migration and relief of overcrowding on the Greek islands.
- Completing work at the reception and identification center on Samos to ensure decent and safe living conditions for refugees and migrants.
- The integration of Community directives on security policy.
