Following a rise in illegal immigration from its eastern neighbour, Greece has committed to extend a fence along its Evros land border with Turkey and expand surveillance efforts.
The decision was made during a regular meeting of the Governmental Council for National Security (KYSEA), chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Tuesday.
Following the meeting, a government statement said Mitsotakis and Greece’s top immigration, security and military officials, discussed “the problem of increased pressure for illegal entry, both along the land border and along the sea border” in the eastern Aegean Sea.
“It was decided to gradually expand the fence along the whole length of the Evros,” with an initial focus on potential trouble spots, the statement said.
“It was also decided to upgrade and strengthen surveillance systems,” which at present will see an increase in patrols along the frontier.
Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarakis, who had already announced the extension of the fence by around 80 km on Friday during an interview with SKAI radio, participated in the meeting at the invitation of the Prime Minister.
In 2020, Turkey said it was opening its western borders to migrants wanting to enter Europe. As a response, Greece expanded the existing fence in the Evros region and increased frontier security to prevent thousands of people from breaking through.
Greek police statistics released last week revealed that of the 7,484 total migrants arrested for illegal entry to Greece this year, 3,554 were from the Evros border.
The national security decision on Tuesday comes after Greek authorities have faced severe criticism this month over a group of 38 refugees who were stranded on an islet in the Evros River. It was alleged the group had been pushed back and forth for days by both Greek and Turkish security personnel.
Greek officials deny the allegations, maintaining the refugees were on Turkish territory and that Greek police moved swiftly to locate and extract the refugees.
SOURCE: AP News
