“Priority is limited to illegal immigration and organizing legal immigration”
Completed in Ministry of Immigration and Asylum The meeting under the prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The prime minister was welcomed by the Minister Makis Voridis In the ministry, a few days after taking up his duties after the reshuffle.
After the meeting, Mr Mitsotakis, referred to the ministry’s political priorities that he said, have to deal with the unlawful immigration and at the same time organizing legal immigration. The prime minister also referred to the encouraging first elements of this year, as he characteristically said, showing that arrivals are reduced by 36%.
He also talked about the completion of projects for existing or new infrastructure in the eastern Aegean islands, stressing that Greece compared to other European countries has such infrastructures that are necessary, funded by the EU and must be completed within Europe’s schedules.
“Government’s commitment is to lead the European dialogue that is made for the Rules of Procedure. The national policy that is being made and European policy is simple: if one arrives in our country and is entitled to asylum we welcome him and is our pleasure if he chooses to stay and live in our country, but if anyone enters illegally he should know that we will do what he goes through to return to his country. This is a debate that is being held at European level and the new regulation of returns that is currently co -ordinated I believe will give us the tools that will complement national legislation so that we can implement this policy, “the prime minister said.
For legal immigration, he pointed out How should it cover detected workers’ needs And how the Ministry of Immigration will play a leading lead by coordinating the relevant ministries.
In addition, he referred to the sensitivity of government In issues of unaccompanied minors But also in the expansion of the rapid visa program for Turkish visitors to our islands. “The financial footprint has already become extremely noticeable last year and will also contribute significantly this year,” he said.
The entire statement by the Prime Minister:
“Thank you, Mr Minister. First of all, I wish you and to the Deputy Minister good power in your new duties as the political leadership of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Indeed, the government’s political priorities are primarily concerned with limiting illegal immigration and at the same time organizing legal immigration, in a way that will cover real and found lack of labor markets.
On the issues of illegal immigration, to dwell on the encouraging elements of the first months of this year, with arrivals flowing by about 36%. Let me emphasize that border guard is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, but apparently works closely with both the Ministry of Citizen Protection and the Ministry of Merchant Shipping.
To dwell on something the minister said, in completing the existing routed and funded by the European Union of Infrastructure in the Eastern Aegean islands. I would like to emphasize that our country, compared to other European countries, has such infrastructures that are necessary. We hope that they will never work at the maximum of their potential, but they are infrastructures that are funded by the European Union and must be completed within the timetables set by Europe.
To reiterate that the government’s commitment is to lead the European dialogue on the regulation of returns. National Politics, which also becomes European policy, is simple: if one arrives in our country and is entitled to asylum, we welcome him and is our pleasure if he chooses to stay and live in our country. If, however, one enters illegally, they should know that we will do everything in our power to return to their country of origin.
This is a debate that is being held at European level and the new regulation of returns, which is being co -ordinated at this time, I believe that it will give us the tools that will complement national legislation so that we can implement this policy.
We have spoken about the issues of legal and organized immigration many times. This must cover detected labor market needs. I stand in particular in the field of land workers, but also in the construction sector, where it is clear that there seems to be no domestic potential that can meet the needs of these branches.
And the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum will play a leading role, coordinating the relevant ministries, so that we are more effective and faster in legal immigration.
Finally, we have historically displayed a great sensitivity to the issues of unaccompanied minors and have launched policies that have been awarded by Europe. It is an area of ​​particular sensitivity, to which we will still show our social face, taking care – or possibly promptly, some of the relevant procedures – to cover as many children as possible, within the existing budget.
And, finally, since we talked about the islands of the Eastern Aegean, to refer to yet another major success of the government and very important to these islands, which is none other than the expansion of the rapid visa or rapid visa program for Turkish visitors to our islands. Indeed, two more are added to the ten existing islands, two more: Patmos and Samothraki.
And I think the financial footprint from this initiative has already been extremely noticeable last year, and I think this year this initiative will contribute significantly this year, which I would like to emphasize that it is an exception to Schengen’s basic rules.
I think this initiative will be very important to further support the islands of the Eastern Aegean, which have de facto lifted a historically great burden on managing the migration problem.
So, Minister, rich the work in front of you. Madam Deputy Minister, good power. “
Mr Voridis stressed that the ministry’s priorities are linked to the treatment of illegal immigration and organizing in a rational, effective and rigorous way, as the Minister said, the legal immigration in order to cover the necessary jobs, jobs, “But with immigrants we know how many are, we know who they are, they are the ones we want, and come for this particular work, respecting our internal processes, our internal rules and our legislation.”
M. Voridis also said that a series of issues were set at the meeting with challenges facing the ministry as well as issues related to unaccompanied minor immigrants.
The Minister of Immigration and Asylum specifically said:
“We were very pleased to welcome the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum. We had the opportunity, on the occasion of the change of political leadership to the ministry, to expose our first thoughts and basic planning, but according to the orders and directions we had already received anyway.
Thus, by summing up with two conversations, the ministry’s priorities are linked to the treatment of illegal immigration and this has an important European dimension as it is under negotiation and the new regulation in the European Union for returns.
And, of course, the organization, in a rational, effective, but also strict way of legal immigration, in order to cover the jobs we need, but with immigrants we know how many are, we know who they are, are the ones we want and come to our work, respecting our internal and internal processes.
Obviously, we have also raised a number of other issues related to the challenges facing the ministry, both on the issues of unaccompanied minors and the work that the Deputy Minister has to do, and therefore the General Secretariat, which we are waiting for, and we are waiting for the issuance of a relevant presidential decree, and we are in charge of issuing the presidential decree.
Therefore, I think we have a complete picture, regulatory and administrative, for how to move forward next time, we have received instructions and directions, we would like to thank the Prime Minister for his directions and will obviously come back to this particular plan. “
“The aim of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum is an effective framework to have voluntary returns”Makis Voridis said before the visit of the Prime Minister, adding that he would exhaust any opportunity.
In this context, he said by speaking on SKAI’s radio, that Europe is processing a plan for organized returns.
“Effective border guard and the huge effort by the Coast Guard have contributed so that the flows of immigrants from Evros are almost zero, while from the sea they do not have the intensity of the past and Turkey also helps,” the minister said.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of State, Akis Skertsos, the Deputy Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Sevi Voloudakis, as well as the Secretaries -General of the Ministry, Vulnerable Citizens and Institutional Protection, Heraklis Moskov, Reception of Applicants.
“Effective border guard and the huge effort by the Coast Guard have contributed so that the flows of immigrants from Evros are almost zero, while from the sea they do not have the intensity of the past and Turkey also helps,” the minister said.
