Turkey has refused to cooperate for 17 months, although there have long been corona tests to ensure safety during repatriation, criticized Mitarakis. Athens had already asked for help from the EU in January. So far, however, nothing has happened. It is expected that the neighboring country will comply with the obligations of the refugee pact – both in taking back rejected asylum seekers and in efforts to prevent illegal crossings.
The minister’s letter was sent to EU Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, to the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and to the head of the EU border protection agency Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri. There are currently a total of around 6,650 migrants on the Greek islands of the East Aegean.
