Management of the migration problem, which is beginning to take on new negative dimensions within the European Union, was the main subject of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Terens Quick’s talks in Prague. At the invitation of the Czech Republic’s Chamber of Deputies and Senate, he met with the Chairperson of the Standing Senate Committee on Compatriots Living Abroad and member of the Committee on Migration, Tomáš Grulich, and with the Chairperson of the Chamber of Deputies Greek-Czech Friendship Committee, Jaroslav Foldyna.
“We are close to new decisions concerning the return of migrants and refugees to their countries of first reception in Europe, which really will create a huge new problem in Greece and elsewhere. We have to focus on the substance of the migration and domestic problems in certain countries to keep negative repercussions from spreading to other countries and to keep ourselves focused on effective solutions. The Central European countries in particular must realise – not on paper, but in practice – that Greece is Europe’s border and thus their border, and that my country cannot stand alone against so large a problem,” Mr. Quick stressed, concluding that “in facing an issue that concerns the whole of the European Union, on behalf of Greece I must ask for increased support from the Czech Chamber of Deputies and Senate for solutions that deter the recurrence of phenomena like those of 2016, which were shouldered mainly by Mediterranean countries, including Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta and Spain. The Dublin Regulation did not favour Greece and the other front-line countries. It did not help my homeland. This regulation cannot now be made even worse for those of us on Europe’s borders.”
The climate in all of the meetings was very friendly, and there was clear willingness to understand Greece’s positions. Moreover, Mr. Quick received assurances from the President of the Greek-Czech Friendship Committee, Mr. Foldyna, that his interlocutors will exert pressure, with the help of their colleagues in parliaments of other European countries, to have the Dublin Regulation revised and rationalised.
In the context of his meetings in Prague – and his talks with the Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs, Jakub Durr – views were exchanged mainly regarding bilateral issues. Moreover, with the Czech Foreign Ministry’s Special Representative for Compatriots Living Abroad, Jaroslav Kanturek, Mr. Quick had a comprehensive exchange of views concerning the two countries’ diasporas.
The Greek Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Efthymios Efthymiadis, accompanied Mr. Quick to all of his meetings.
June 22, 2018