Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis on Wednesday ruled out the prospect of a mass return of migrants to Greece from Germany, saying that such reports “are unrealistic.
Speaking to Skai TV, Marinakis stressed that the government’s policy had succeeded in reducing the numbers of migrants that Greece is called upon to manage from 92,000 in 2019 to 21,000 at present.
“We are not going to accept 30,000 Afghans from Germany, nor is there any such issue. The numbers being cited are not realistic,” he added referring to media reports claiming that Germany would send back to Greece up to 100,000 people
“We must explain that there are two categories: those who are given asylum and those who are not. The former can travel based on the law for 90 days, while the latter must return to the country of entrance and then a process for their final return is followed,” Marinakis said
He recalled that Greece secured the Migration and Asylum Pact the last April.
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