EU to help gov’t register and relocate refugees

The European Union will be sending officials to eastern Aegean islands and Piraeus to help Greek authorities deal with the huge influx of refugees and migrants.

The agreement was made during a meeting last week between representatives of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and the Greek government in Athens. Kathimerini understands EASO staff will be sent to the Greek islands where thousands of refugees, mostly from Syria, have been arriving over the last few months. They will help inform the refugees of how they can apply for asylum. Also, 15 European officials will be stationed in Piraeus to help Greek authorities relocate 14,000 refugees who arrive in Greece to other parts of the EU, as agreed by European leaders earlier this summer.

Speaking to Sunday’s Kathimerini, EASO Executive Director Robert Visser stressed that Greece also had to do more to ensure that the refugees are properly registered.

“Member states are required to know the identity of everyone who enters their territory,” he said. “Greece is no exception.”

“The Greek system for registering and managing refugees and irregular migrants is under tremendous pressure, so during the recent meeting in Piraeus we tried to find ways to cooperate so we can help the Greek authorities effectively,” added Visser.