Minister at the Delphi Economic Forum stresses deterrence at borders and return centres outside the EU

The Minister of Migration and Asylum participated in the 11th Delphi Economic Forum, contributing to the panel on "Migration Strategy in an Age of Pressure", together with the Federal Minister of the Interior of Austria and the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection of Cyprus. The Greek Minister presented the Greek strategy against increasing migratory pressures, emphasising the protection of external borders, deterrence and returns. He noted that deterrence is a necessary dimension of a serious migration policy, while he underlined that border guarding cannot be understood without active protection against illegal flows.

The Greek Minister stated that Europe is now entering a different period of migration management, leaving behind policies such as open borders, which in his words failed, moving towards a "strict but fair" approach. He also referred to the implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, noting that its success will depend on the effectiveness of the new return framework.

Extensive reference was made to the cooperation between Greece, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark for the creation of return centres outside the European Union (Return Hubs), emphasising that this specific initiative constitutes a crucial step for a new European return architecture.

The Minister distinguished between illegal and legal migration stating that the latter serves exclusively the real needs of the economy. He noted that Greece is accelerating the procedures for relocating workers in critical sectors, such as agricultural production, tourism, construction and industry, through organized and controlled channels. Furthermore, he presented the initiatives to connect recognized refugees with the labour market, pointing out that integration occurs through work and not through benefit dependency. 

Overall, he reiterated that the Greek migration strategy is based on three pillars: border protection and deterrence; strengthening returns, and organised legal migration routes.

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