The migration issue was at the heart of the meeting held by Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis with the Italian Minister of the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese, in the context of his visit to Rome.
“Italy and Greece share not only the same positions, but also the same problems. The migration problem has had a major impact on both countries, and we are looking for ways to react jointly. What is important for us is to have a unified line on the European front, and especially with regard to the European Migration and Asylum Pact, which is under negotiation”, Mr. Varvitsiotis stressed in his statements following the meeting.
In particular, the Alternate Minister underscored that there is a conversation on forming a group of countries of first reception – Spain, Greece, Italy, Malta and Cyprus – that has taken shape within the Med5 scheme and aims to expand. He also added that, in the new Migration Pact, there should be no “salami tactics” regarding the proposals, and that agreement must be reached between all sides before we reach the final adoption of the pact.
Regarding EU-Turkey relations, he informed the Minister of the Interior about the debate that has begun on the revision of the EU-Turkey Joint Statement of 2016. He expressed Greece’s concerns at the failure to correctly implement the provisions of the Joint Statement, asking for full compliance on the part of Turkey. He also noted that the objective is to directly link cooperation to funding, through the adoption of a mechanism that gives more when there is good cooperation and less when the Turkish authorities do not cooperate on responding to the migration issue.
Finally, Mr. Varvitsiotis highlighted the excellent cooperation between Greece and Italy, especially on migration issues – on which Ms. Lamorgese collaborates with Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi – pointing out that he has undertaken the coordination at the European level for Greece. In closing, he referred to yesterday’s meeting with his Italian counterpart, Vincenzo Amendola, in which these issues were also discussed, stressing that “there is a strong convergence of views, and we want the other members of the European Council to see this”.
April 16, 2021