Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ meeting with EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met at noon with the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, at Maximos Mansion.

At the beginning of their meeting they had the following dialogue:

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: So, Commissioner, welcome. I understand this is your first foreign trip, apart from a visit you made to Poland for obvious reasons, but it’s a real pleasure to be able to welcome you. We have lots to discuss. As you know, Greece is a country that has found itself on the forefront of the migration crisis for many, many years.

We’re happy with the progress that has been made at the European level in terms of a rebalancing of our overall European migration policy towards the protection of the external borders with a significant emphasis on returns, but also by placing a lot of focus on legal pathways to migration.

There’s a lot to discuss, and I’d like to congratulate you again on your appointment and your election, and I’m sure we will have a very fruitful cooperation.

Magnus Brunner: Thanks for having me. Thanks for your time. As you said, yes, it’s my first visit abroad, officially, of course, except Poland. That’s because Greece, of course, plays such an important role and is such a good partner also of the European Union altogether, not only when it comes to the topics we are discussing, security, but also migration, but in all other aspects as well. There has been so much improvement also on the different topics. Thank you again for having me. Thanks for all you do, for all your efforts.

As you mentioned, there are some things to do, of course, some things ahead of us. Implementing the pact is one of them. But the topic of returns also is something we have to deliver, definitely. We will deliver, hopefully. I’m still optimistic, even though I just started, but because I just started in my new portfolio, a lot to do, a lot to deliver.

I’m very happy that the cooperation between Greece and the European Union is of such intensity, which is good because, as I said, Greece plays an important role and has played and will play. Looking very much forward to working together with you.