Following up on a positive step
The latest European initiatives aimed at addressing the rising number of asylum seekers and irregular migrants reaching the shores of Greece and other Mediterranean countries are important.
Obviously, the announcement made in Brussels yesterday regarding plans to relocate 40,000 refugees from Greece and Italy, along with more spending on the Frontex border agency, will not solve the problem. However, these measures show that European Union leaders understand the importance and magnitude of the challenge we are facing.
In the past, Athens has never been able to make full use of the means that the EU has put at its disposal with regards to this pivotal matter. The government has to make sure that Greece does not pass up this opportunity, especially as the European Commissioner who deals with these issues is Greek.
