Athens, 30 June 2009

In his meeting with European Commission Vice-President in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, Mr. Jacques Barrot, which took place on the sidelines of the EPP’s “Study Days” in Vouliagmeni, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Yannis Valinakis discussed the increasing problem of illegal migration that our country is faced with and examining ways to effectively address it with practical measures.

Mr. Valinakis stressed the need for a substantial expression of European solidarity through practical initiatives on an issue that has now become, as he said, a major European top-priority issue following the recent European Summit, not just for Greece but for the entire European Union.  Mr. Valinakis especially mentioned the serious problems that the islands of the Eastern Aegean are faced with, as they are on the first line of entry for migrants, pointing out that due to Greece's geographical position as an entrance gate to Europe for Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, these islands are particularly exposed to these migratory flows. Mr. Valinakis also stressed the urgency of the matter given that illegal migration has now spiraled out of control calling for emergency aid.

Within this framework, he asked the competent Commissioner to make provisions for special aid to our country, e.g., through a pilot programme to be immediately implemented, including:

- intensifying and strengthening joint operations and patrols under FRONTEX along our sea borders, with more European resources (maritime, air, specialised experts).

- further financial support for tackling emergencies.

- implementing immediate and practical measures that would relieve insular areas from the pressure such as using a ship of sufficient tonnage as a first reception and transport centre for illegal migrants.

Mr. Valinakis also discussed with Mr. Barrot the proposals on tackling illegal migration that the European Commission is expected to table to the October European Summit, based on the latest European Council’s guidelines. Mr. Valinakis said that these proposals will have to give tangible confirmation of the solidarity between member states, an issue that he also raised during the talks he had with the new EU Swedish Presidency last week in Stockholm.

Turkey’s stance was also at the heart of today’s meeting. Mr. Valinakis insisted on the need to immediately relaunch negotiations between EU and Turkey aimed at the conclusion of a readmission agreement and the full implementation of the existing Greek-Turkish readmission protocol that recent European Summit decisions have been calling for. “We are putting pressure in this direction and we will continue to do so”, stressed Mr. Valinakis pointing out that this is not an issue between Greece and Turkey but between the EU and Turkey and it should be addressed as such by Turkey and our European partners.