In a recent press conference in Vienna with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appealed to Austria for enhanced financial aid from the European Union (EU) to help Greece manage the escalating illegal immigration crisis.
Mitsotakis emphasized that immigration issues and the protection of the EU’s external borders were high on the agenda during his discussions with Nehammer.
Mitsotakis highlighted the disproportionate burdens some countries bear, pointing out the significant expenses Greece has incurred in setting up reception centres, particularly on the Aegean islands.
He argued that Greece deserves more assistance, including financial support, due to these substantial expenditures.
Chancellor Nehammer expressed understanding of the Greek government’s position, noting that combating illegal immigration is a collective task for all EU countries.
He acknowledged that more needs to be done for the countries bearing the brunt of this issue. Nehammer added, “If Greece protects its external borders, it also protects Austrian borders,” and committed to continue advocating in Brussels for support of these border protection investments.
Last August, the European Commission announced the activation of its Civil Protection Mechanism to assist Greece and Albania in their efforts to combat severe wildfires.
According to a statement by Balazs Ujvari, spokesperson for the Commission, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre has facilitated the provision of aerial and ground firefighting resources from several European countries.
Ujvari detailed that the support for Greece includes two aeroplanes from Italy, helicopters from France and Serbia, and ground firefighting crews from the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Romania, and Serbia.
For Albania, the assistance includes a military aircraft equipped for firefighting from Romania.
The Commission is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to provide further assistance if necessary.
