Alternate FM Flogaitis’ remarks to the EU General Affairs Council

During his remarks to the EU General Affairs Council,  in Brussels, Alternate Foreign Minister Spyros Flogaitis focused on the issue of confronting the refugee and immigration crisis.

Mr. Flogaitis noted that the crisis has taken on huge proportions and stressed that it is unacceptable for human lives – particularly the lives of young children – to be lost on Greece’s borders, which are also the European Union’s external borders.

He assured his counterparts that Greece is making every effort to guard Europe’s external borders, expressing the conviction that, on the issue of guarding borders, we can all be more effective if we work together.

At the same time, he noted that all sides need to show particular care and respect for international and humanitarian law, given that Europe is currently facing an emergency situation and an unprecedented wave of refugees.

The Alternate Foreign Minister then stated that a matter of such dimensions cannot be dealt with by individual member states, adding that there needs to be a comprehensive strategy for addressing the causes of the refugee and immigration crisis.

He underscored that Greece will always participate constructively in any decision or process that complies with the principles that have been shaped by European culture and that we all have a duty to serve.

Mr. Flogaitis referred, in conclusion, to the urgent nature of the problem and the need for there to be immediate and definitive results. He stressed that, if this is not rendered possible immediately, and if the urgent pending matters are not dealt with, a joint meeting of Foreign Affairs and Justice & Home Affairs Ministers (Jumbo configuration) could be convened, as has been proposed by the German side. But Mr. Flogaitis stressed that, regardless of the above, Greece sees as necessary the convening of a Summit Meeting at the soonest possible time, so that the EU heads of state and government can take decisions and establish regulations with regard to the emergency situation that has arisen.

Following Mr. Flogaitis remarks, the President of the General Affairs Council, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, stressed to Mr. Flogaitis that the whole of the EU stands by Greece’s side and will do everything necessary to support our country.

On the margins of the General Affairs Council, Mr. Flogaitis had separate meetings with the First Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, with Netherlands Foreign Minister Bert Koenders, and with the Deputy Minsters for European Affairs of Germany, Michael Roth, France, Harlem Desir, and Romania, George Ciamba.