Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis following his meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer addressed key issues related to migration, on Wednesday.
Mitsotakis stressed that it is unacceptable for human traffickers to determine who enters the European Union. He asserted that such decisions should be made by EU member states, underscoring the unity on this issue within Europe. He expressed gratitude for Austria's support in March 2020 when Greece faced a coordinated attempt to breach its borders, a challenge Greece successfully repelled for the benefit of both Greece and Europe.
He described this as an early indicator of a shift in European attitudes, emphasizing the prioritization of external border protection, as reflected in the conclusions of the European Council and integrated into the Migration and Asylum Pact.
Mitsotakis highlighted the significant progress Greece has made over the past five years, citing the organized reception structures on the Aegean islands. He noted a decrease in migration flows from Turkish coasts to Greek islands and praised the effectiveness of Greece’s border protection. He also commended the Coast Guard for rescuing distressed individuals at sea.
He thanked Austria for its support in the ongoing request for increased European funding for land border protection. Regarding the fence on the Evros River, he affirmed that it will be constructed with either national or European funds, though he believes EU assistance would be more equitable.
On legal migration, Mitsotakis discussed agreements Greece has established with countries such as Egypt.
He also addressed the European prospects for the Western Balkans, asserting that there should be no compromises on the rule of law and adherence to existing agreements.
Regarding the Middle East, Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s stance on completing negotiations to achieve an immediate ceasefire, alleviate the humanitarian situation, and secure the release of hostages. He added that Greece is working to prevent the worst-case scenario of regional escalation impacting all of Europe.
In response to a question, Mitsotakis noted that energy costs in Europe are currently higher than in the US and highlighted that Greece and other Balkan countries have recently experienced distortions in the European energy market. He emphasized the urgent need to invest more in European energy networks as a top priority.
In response to a question about migration, Mitsotakis emphasized that the implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact should be a priority. He stated that Greece cannot be expected to bear an unfairly large burden due to its position at the EU's external borders. He stressed that European support for managing migrants arriving in Greece must continue and current resources may not be sufficient or guaranteed for the future.
Mitsotakis further noted that it is not Greece’s role to dictate the social welfare policies of other member states. He argued against moving towards an ad hoc approach with exceptions to the Schengen Agreement, asserting that it would be unjust to expect Greece, which has recently emerged from an unprecedented economic crisis, to offer a more favorable social protection framework for refugees than for Greek citizens.