Government intention to extend by 80 kilometers fence on Evros The Minister of Immigration and Asylum repeated yesterday Notis Mitarakis. As he pointed out, Greece would not become an “open vineyard” and insisted that Turkey this is not a country at war.” With this rejection, the minister defended his repeated position that immigrants arriving from Turkey could be returned to it.

It has already been submitted to European Union relevant request for the use of EU funds for a specific project, but the European Commission does not appear to grant the request. An important deterrent is considered to be the fact that in the case of Hellas to extend the existing fence, similar requests will be made by other Member States, who will actually want to build much longer structures, which require numerous funds. However, the government stressed that it is ready to continue the expansion project even without EU financial assistance, using national funds.

Expanding the fence “as many kilometers as we can” was mentioned several times by the Minister for Citizens’ Protection. Takis Theodorikakos, whose responsibilities also include the design of the fence. However, representatives of the local government of the region report that the border along Evros stretches for a total of 180 kilometers, but the extension of the fence is difficult or even impossible due to the river and its alluvium. The existing fence on Evros today has a total area of ​​38 kilometers, of which 27 kilometers were built a year and a half ago. At the same time, the contractor also began reinforcing the fence, adding 5 meters of wire mesh along the entire length of 12.5 kilometers (this section was built by the government of Samara and stretches along the land border from Castañes to Nea). Vyssa), instead of 3.5 m, which were earlier.

The Minister of Immigration defended the position that migrants arriving from Turkey could be re-admitted to it.

Regarding the whereabouts of the 38 migrants on the island of Evros, Mr. Mitarakis told SKAI that this is not Greek territory. Both the Army Geographical Service and the Land Registry clearly stated that the footprint left by the immigrants was outside Greek territory.

Refugee structures

At the moment, according to him, 18,000 asylum seekers are being accommodated in our country, in a total of 34 accommodation facilities. At the end of the year, all asylum seekers will have to leave the apartments they live in throughout the country, as the corresponding program and related funding from the EU expires. We remind you that persons who have received refugee status do not have the right to room and board, but can join the rent subsidy program for up to 1 year. Speaking of refugee flows, he said that “last year we had the lowest number of arrivals in the last decade – 8,500 migrants.” However, this year, until yesterday, a total of 7,000 migrants crossed into Greece, either by sea or across the land border at Evros. This morning, 237 migrants who arrived on three sailboats and remained in port are expected to finally be displaced from the island of Kythera.

Episodes with 5 acquaintances with Eleonas

Yesterday morning, the police took five young people, reportedly a Turk, a Frenchman and a German, to an immigrant accommodation facility in Eleonas. Early in the morning, a group of 15-20 people gathered at the entrance to the building, obstructing the passage of personnel. The intervention of the police caused a great reaction and a stone fight, which resulted in arrests. The protest was organized in the context of a reaction to the government’s decision to close a particular camp and move residents to other structures, which, however, are located at a greater distance from Athens, such as Schistos, Corinth or Thebes. However, the people who closed the camp door do not live in the building, but gathered to support the migrants protesting the move. The area where the camp was set up belongs to the municipality of Athens, which in 2015 temporarily transferred it to the use of the Ministry of Immigration to deal with the refugee crisis.