Migration and Asylum Minister Makis Voridis sent a strong message in support of a strict migration policy, with a focus on returns and the fight against illegal migration, while attending the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Khartoum Process held on 9 April, according to a ministry press release on Thursday.
Voridis clarified that migration management requires a comprehensive, realistic and decisive approach, stressing that there can be no reliable migration system without functioning return mechanisms. As he pointed out, returns are a key pillar, not only of the effectiveness but also of the credibility of the European framework on migration and asylum.
"Greece consistently supports the strategy of returns and welcomes the fact that both the Cairo Ministerial Declaration and the Action Plan put this issue at the centre," he said, calling on states to strengthen their cooperation in this area.
He made a special reference to the importance of legal and organised migration, arguing that the Greece-Egypt agreement should become a model for bilateral cooperation. As he made clear, the positive side of migration is based on legality, control and mutual benefit. There is no tolerance for the illegal practices of smugglers.
Referring to the New European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, the Minister stressed the need for a balanced approach, with a fair distribution of responsibilities and the effective management of external borders. At the same time, he stressed that the external dimension of the Pact should be given a substantial and practical content through enhanced cooperation with countries of origin and transit. "Europe needs less talk and more action. Partnerships must be binding and measurable - not general declarations without results," he made clear.
On the sidelines of the Conference, Voridis had bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister of Egypt Badr Abdelatty, with the Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister responsible for Migration Ambassador Nabil Habashy, Egyptian Labour Minister Mohamed Gibran as well as with European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner. A central issue of the discussions was the strengthening of the implementation of the Greek-Egyptian mobility agreement, with emphasis on the employment of Egyptian workers in Greece - especially in the agricultural and fisheries sectors, while it was agreed to extend it to the construction sector. At the same time, it was agreed to strengthen coordination to increase the rate of return of undocumented migrants. The minister extended an official invitation to his Egyptian counterpart to visit Athens.