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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-09-27
CONTENTS
[01] EU's Verwey notes Greece's progress and problems in handling
refugee crisis
[01] EU's Verwey notes Greece's progress and problems in handling
refugee crisis
Greece has made progress in the past year in the management of the
refugee crisis, the EU Coordinator to implement the EU-Turkey deal,
Maarten Verwey, told journalists in Brussels on Monday.
"The situation in Greece has greatly improved in the past year," he said
and noted the good and close cooperation with Greek authorities which
has improved with the passage of time. He also said that the EU-Turkey
deal is not at risk, noting that both Turkey and the EU are focused on
implementing it.
According to European Commission data collected over the past year,
returns to Turkey have increased significantly from just eight in 2015
to 676 after the signing of the deal, while refugee arrivals have dropped
from 5,000 per day on average to 100.
Greece has also built infrastructure to permanently house 60,000 people
in Greece while the country is improving its absorption of EU funds.
He said Brussels see great delays in the appeals process for asylum,
which he said is responsible in part for the crowded conditions of the
island hotspots and the violent incidents.
Verwey also said that out of the 60,000 refugees in Greece today, only
24,000 are eligible for relocation to the EU, while a total of about
4,000 relocations have taken place so far.
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