Greece has called on European Union member states to embrace a proposed plan aimed at penalizing nations that refuse to accept migrants deported by the bloc. Dimitris Keridis, the Greek Minister of Asylum and Migration, emphasized the ineffectiveness of existing bilateral agreements for migrant returns between EU and non-EU countries.
He insisted that Europe must demand the repatriation of its citizens from these countries, or else face the prospect of sanctions and financial assistance cutoffs.
Keridis stated, “Europe has the authority to assert its will on this matter,” noting that the proposal for sanctions is in its final stages of negotiation as part of a new overhaul of EU immigration rules.
The Greek minister continued, expressing that the failure to implement a practical deportation policy would make Europe appear “ridiculous” concerning its asylum process.
Greece and Italy have been grappling with a sharp increase in the number of incoming migrants, intensifying pressures within the European Union to finalize the migration agreement.
Authorities reported the rescue of 88 migrants, including 20 children, from Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, from a distressed boat off the southern Peloponnese region. Their rescue was aided by an oil tanker on Wednesday. Hours earlier, 82 migrants were rescued near the eastern Greek island of Symi. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by countries on the frontlines of migration routes into Europe.
