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A senior European Union’s immigration official told Greece on Thursday to stop “violent” deportations of migrants or risk losing EU funds.
After becoming one of the top destinations during the 2015 migrant crisis, Athens has toughened its policy over the past year by increasing land and sea patrols, widening a border fence, and building camps much more securely. strictly on its islands near Turkey.
Greece has repeatedly denied allegations of so-called return of asylum seekers, saying it bans boats at sea to protect its borders and those of the European Union.
“Protecting the EU’s external border from illegal entry is an obligation. “Violent and illegal deportations of migrants must stop now,” said Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson after meeting with Greek government ministers.
She said Athens would introduce a new system to protect fundamental rights from September, but gave no further details. Greek officials have not yet commented on her statements.
“Funding is linked to the implementation of EU fundamental rights,” she added.
Greece said last month it would not allow illegal entry of migrants by sea or land, following an increase in attempts through its Aegean islands and land borders with Turkey.
Addressing the European Parliament, the Greek Minister for Immigration, Notis Mitarachi, stated that the EU should also do more to stop migrant boats coming from Turkey, with which Greece has constant clashes over migrants and others.
“Greece expects an even more active role of the EU institutions, urging Turkey to adhere to its commitments,” he said. “According to a considerable amount of evidence from asylum seekers, the Turkish authorities are actively encouraging the illegal travel of migrants to Greece.”
The influx of migrants from the Middle East and Africa in 2015 overwhelmed social and security capacities in the European Union.
The number of newcomers had dropped significantly since then, but in recent weeks, Greek authorities said they had barred a significant number of people from entering their territory.
About 47,000 people have arrived by sea in Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Malta so far this year, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said. Mediterranean countries expect more than 150,000 arrivals this year as food shortages caused by the conflict in Ukraine threaten to increase the number of migrants from Africa and the Middle East.
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