Greece and Global Forum on Migration and Development.

In preparation for the 2013-2014 GFMD Forum, due to take place in May 2014 in Stockholm (Sweden), the 4rth GFMD Thematic Forum was held in Geneva from 19 to 21 of November.

During the second day of the meeting,  the Hellenic Republic, represented by the Secretary General of Population and Social Cohesion (Ministry of Interior),  Mr Evangelos Syrigos, participated in the 3rd GFMD Thematic Meeting "Migration as an enabler for inclusive social development”.

Following the opening statement of Ambassador Eva Akerman Borje, Mr. Syrigos  outlined Greek policies concerning migration and protection of migrant rights. He pointed out that during the last two decades, Greece has become a major transit and destination country for tens of thousands of migrants. According to available data of the Greek Ministry of Interior, it is estimated that Greece houses 1,300,000 migrants or 11,5 per cent of its population.

He  shared with the audience Greece’s good practices in implementing legal national and international frameworks with the view of minimizing the human and social impact of the phenomenon and improving access to safe, legal and protected migration opportunities. He outlined the new Code on migration matters and the National Integration Strategy of the Greek Ministry of Interior. 
The Greek government, with the financial support of the EU, is trying to tackle migration challenges through an Action Plan which includes, among other measures, the following policies:

* to orderly manage migration and to prevent illegal inflows
*to safeguard legal migrants rights and the fundamental rights of undocumented migrants, 
* to return illegal migrants in their countries and 
* to implement effective integration policies for long term residencies.