The Minister of Migration and Asylum, Makis Voridis, attended the second ministerial meeting involving Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, held today in Sofia. The meeting included participation from Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov and Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
The agenda centered on strengthening collaboration among the three nations to better manage migration flows, enhance border security, and facilitate returns to countries of origin.
Mr. Voridis emphasized that, “we now have tangible and concrete evidence of the way forward. What began as an initiative in 2023 is already yielding measurable results.” He noted that “arrivals at our land borders have decreased by 30% compared to 2024, and there’s been a 38% drop in flows to the Aegean islands. The partnership between the Coast Guard, Greek Police, and their counterparts in Turkey is showing visible outcomes, sending a decisive message to smugglers: border control is back in the hands of the states.”
The management of the border is now firmly under the control of authorities.
Addressing the critical topic of returns, Mr. Voridis stated, “a meaningful immigration policy cannot exist without a return policy. Establishing the rule of law necessitates a clear differentiation between those entitled to international protection and irregular migrants. Without an effective return mechanism, an institutional void emerges that erodes the social acceptance of any migration strategy.”
Voridis also pointed out the rising migratory pressure from Libya, which presents new challenges for border management and highlights the need for enhanced cooperation in combating illegal trafficking and crime. “It is imperative that we strengthen our collaboration in tackling trafficking and crime effectively. I believe we can confidently assert that this cooperation is delivering concrete results. Control of the border is reinstated within the grasp of the states, rather than being left to organized networks.”
The Minister expressed his gratitude to his counterparts for their outstanding cooperation and extended an invitation for the next trilateral meeting, slated to occur in Athens next November.
In addition to the trilateral gathering, Mr. Voridis engaged in a bilateral meeting with Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov and also had discussions with Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on the sidelines of the event.
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