MIGRATION TALKS WITH EU COMMISSIONER

Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Dendias met yesterday with EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström in Athens to discuss funding programmes related to migrants and refugees in Greece. Following talks, Malmström welcomed efforts by the Greek government to create a fairer system for processing the asylum applications of undocumented immigrants, via the establishment of a specialized office with trained staff that will register applications, conduct interviews and handle appeals.

She also hailed the creation of new asylum centres in Athens, and on certain islands, noting however that more had to be done to improve conditions at migrant detention centres. Malmström noted that the EU is committed to financially supporting Greece, given that the country is in deep economic crisis and bears the largest volume of migration flows into Europe. The commissioner also expressed concern over the recent spike in racist violence and the rising popularity of the ultra-right Golden Dawn party.

SOURCE: GREEK NEWS AGENDA