Greek PM: The EU Answer to the Migration Problem Cannot Be the Schengen Treaty's Abolition

Politics

Greek PM: The EU Answer to the Migration Problem Cannot Be the Schengen Treaty’s Abolition

September 12, 2024

ΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΡΩΘΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΑΚΟΥ ΜΗΤΣΟΤΑΚΗ ΣΤΟΝ ΡΑΔΙΟΦΩΝΙΚΟ ΣΤΑΘΜΟ TALK RADIO (ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΠΑΠΑΜΗΤΣΟΣ/ΓΡΑΦΕΙΟ ΤΥΠΟΥ ΠΡΩΘΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΥ/EUROKINISSI)

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis talks to Talk Radio 98.9 journalists Takis Hatzis and Athinaida Nega, Thursday September 12, 2024. (DIMITRIS PAPAMITSOS/PRIME MINISTER'S PRESS OFFICE/EUROKINISSI)

ATHENS – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday spoke about the government’s work and the planning of the next steps in an interview with Talk Radio 98.9 FM.

Referring to migration, he made an overview of the problem, and said that New Democracy (ND) followed a much stricter but fair policy with border guarding and tightening the framework for the provision of asylum, while he emphasized that in 2020 Greece defended the European borders.

He pointed out that the answer to the problem cannot be the abolition of the Schengen Treaty, while he noted that flows have decreased and the situation in the islands of the eastern Aegean has been normalized.

The prime minister also said that “we sent a message that the traffickers will not command” and noted that Europe is more concerned with immigration and not so much Greece, which has provided solutions. He estimated that cooperation with Turkiye on this issue is necessary and defended the work of the Coast Guard saying that it saved thousands of people at sea and that it is offensive to peddle conspiracy theories.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis talks to Talk Radio 98.9 journalists Takis Hatzis and Athinaida Nega, Thursday September 12, 2024.
(DIMITRIS PAPAMITSOS/PRIME MINISTER’S PRESS OFFICE/EUROKINISSI)

On the water shortage, Mitsotakis made clear that “increases in water are not expected. Water is and will remain cheap” and spoke of readjustment to inflation levels. Attica said, it is not facing a water shortage problem, but the reserve has dropped by 30%, and it is still holding out for 4 bad winters. He said that a plan to transfer water from Lake Kremastos is being launched immediately to avoid a problem, while he noted that the islands have a problem that is temporarily covered with desalination.

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