KAS

Shortly before the EU-Turkey Summit, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, was a guest of KAS Greece.

KAS

A panel of high level experts discussed the challenges of the current migration crisis with the Commissioner.

KAS

The panelists were Vassilis Kikilias, parliamentary coordinator for migration policy of Nea Dimokratia, Gerald Knaus of the European Stability Initiative and Daniel Esdras, head of the Greece office of IOM.

KAS

Rodi Kratsa, President of the Karamanlis Institute, and Susanna Vogt, Head of KAS Greece, discussing with Commissioner Avramopoulos.

KAS

Daniel Esdras, IOM Greece, EU Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, journalist and moderator Pavlos Tsimas, Rodi Kratsa, Karamanlis Institute, Gerald Knaus, ESI, Susanna Vogt, KAS Athens (from left to right)

KAS

More than 600 guests were present in the panel discussion on Saturday in Athens.

“Greece is not alone; Europe is on its side. No member-state will leave the Schengen Area” said the EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos on Saturday at an event organized by KAS Greece. More than 600 guests, among them various Greek politicians, attended the panel discussion in Athens which took place only 2 days before today’s EU Summit where crucial decision are expected to be taken.

EU Commissioner Avramopoulos stated that he will insist on finding “legal ways of migrating”, and that the priority is to control the waves of migration and create a framework of cooperation between member states.

Vassilis Kikilias, Member of Parliament and New Democracy Coordinator for Migration Policy, blamed the current Greek government that it is “pulling” migrants after abandoning the “detention” policy. He claims that the situation today - migrants being stranded in various public places, like the borders to FYROM – is less humane than detention.

Gerald Knaus, Chairman of the European Stability Initiative, doubted the effectiveness of the EU relocation policy which has produced poor results so far. For Knaus, resettlement would be more efficient in terms of security, controlling the migration flows and protecting migrants from trafficking and dangerous routes. This will only work, if readmission of migrants from Greece to Turkey brought forward.

Daniel Esdras, Head of the IOM office in Greece, stressed that relocation should be activated with more emphasis to ensure legal and controlled transfer of migrant families from Greece to other European countries.

All experts agreed on one thing - that the cooperation with Turkey is of highest importance, although many remain sceptical at some aspects of the cooperation. All had more than high expectations from today's EU Summit.