Greece urges EU border company to not pull in a foreign country as questions mount over migrant deaths

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s new minister for migration mentioned Monday he would think about it “unthinkable” for the European Union to tug out its border safety drive from the nation, and promised to deal with a rising listing of worldwide grievances over coping with migrants.

A dispute between Greece’s authorities and the EU border company Frontex worsened after a trawler carrying lots of of migrants sank off the coast of the Greek mainland on June 14, leaving greater than 500 individuals feared useless.

Frontex has additionally given Greece till July 10 to supply explanations concerning new reviews of alleged unlawful deportations – referred to as pushbacks – of migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Dimitris Kairidis, the migration minister, mentioned he would meet with Frontex officers in Athens and on the company’s headquarters in Warsaw, Poland within the coming days.

“I think it would be unthinkable for Frontex to leave our country,” Kairidis informed state-run ERT tv. “They would be shooting themselves in the foot. Their main purpose is to protect the borders of the European Union.”

Kairidis was sworn in as minister final week following the re-election victory of Greece’s conservatives. He confirmed Monday that consultations with Frontex had already taken place “regarding its presence in Greece – nothing more.” ___