“Nothing changes now. What changes is the policy that we will start implementing from now on”, Deputy Minister of State for Migration and Asylum, Sevi Voloudaki told ERTNews, speaking about Greece‘s immigration policy, noting that “in recent years we have been implementing a strict but fair immigration policy.” At the same time, he revealed that the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum will re-file a petition with the Council of State to count Turkey as a safe country, following the recent annulment of the relevant EIA by the Supreme Court.

Speaking about the majority of migrants seeking asylum from Greece, he said most are economic migrants who “claim to be minors, but they are not“. And as he explained, after the necessary identification, the treatment is different for minors and different for adults. Describing the procedure to be followed, Ms Voloudaki explained that if the application is rejected twice, then the migrant will have to return to his/her country.

“Strict but fair immigration policy”

Referring to the new migration regulation on returns that is being negotiated in the EU and in which she said Greece is a leading player, she explained that the aim is “to make returns easier and faster.“

According to the Deputy Minister of State for Immigration and Asylum, “in recent years we have been implementing a strict but fair immigration policy”. Answering a question where all those who illegally entered our country will be returned, Ms Voloudaki said this will be either to the country from which they entered Greece, if it is safe as a country, or to their country of origin, when possible.

Commenting on the recent decision of the Council of State that does not classify Turkey as a safe country, she said there was “a failure on the part of the documentation. This will change”.

She even announced that “the ministry’s proposal will be resubmitted and I think there will be no problem with that.” In fact, she said, although he cannot anticipate the CoS’s decision, she believes that the ministry’s arguments will be such that the judges will decide that Turkey is a safe third country so that it can take back migrants. “This will be done by our ministry very quickly,” he noted.

Regarding migrants who enter the country illegally, the deputy minister said most of them do not want to stay in Greece but leave for other destinations.