ATHENS – Main opposition SYRIZA spokesperson Alexis Charitsis on Thursday said that the European Union’s leadership “committed themselves to nothing” during their recent visit to Evros while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis “did not demand anything at all,” while speaking to ANT1 TV.

“Essentially they left us to deal with the issue on our own,” he underlined, calling this “a dangerous development”.

Charitsis said that “the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson on Wednesday embarrassed Mr. Mitsotakis, revealing that the Greek government has made no request for the relocation of migrants and refugees from Greece to EU member-states.”

He noted that “in the last few days we have been seeing a state of total derailment in Greek society” and particularly on the island of Lesvos “there was now a complete breakdown of the state” with groups of so-called “indignant” citizens taking the law into their own hands to attack other civilians, journalists and volunteers. “These are not isolated incidents, we are faced with phenomena of generalised violence,” the spokesperson added.

At stake was the cohesion of Greek society, Charitsis said, noting that the “Greek people know what it means to be a refugee” and that “we should not allow phenomena of social cannibalism in our country.”

He clarified that it is self evident that a law-abiding country protects its borders, adding that “the issue is how Greece responds to Turkey’s aims”.