“As Greece, we fully support Cyprus, while at the same time within the Council we are discussing increasing returns,” said Greece’s Minister for Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, during the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

Mr. Plevris stressed that “in order to combat illegal migration we must increase returns and send a clear message that Europe is not an attractive destination for someone who is not entitled to asylum.”

He also pointed out that “the Council is taking place under special circumstances, as we must deal with the crisis in Iran and assess any potential impact on migration flows.”

Support for Cyprus

“We are very close to implementing the ‘Pact’, and all countries are preparing in this direction,” the minister said, referring to the EU’s EU Migration and Asylum Pact.

However, he added that the smooth operation of the pact also requires the returns regulation, which defines “return hubs,” something he described as a priority for Greece.