President of European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker criticized indirectly Greece’s refusal to participate in joint patrols with Turkey in the Aegean Sea while speaking at Frankfurt.
Mr.Juncker said that “the internal borders should remain open. And if we want to ensure that the internal borders will remain open, we should safeguard the external borders much better”, while he expressed his dissatisfaction about Greece’s reactions on his suggestion for joint patrols in the Aegean Sea.
“I suggested, and came across with strong reactions, Greeks and Turks to form together a coastguard which will patrol the sea areas between Turkey and the Greek islands. Turks agree, Greeks don’t,” he mentioned adding “should we fight over for a sea area of 10 kilometers wide, who is responsible and where or should we try to save human lives?”.
He also said that there is need to form a coastguard organized by European Union and highlighted that he would submit the relevant proposal by the end of the year.
