"A more effective asylum policy, aside from the planned fence construction or the advance technology means used by other countries to protect their borders, is the best deterrent to the flow of illegal migrants that Greece is facing," Citizen Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis stressed in Parliament on Wednesday, during the second reading (by article) of a draft law on asylum.
Papoutsis said the law is part of an overall action plan approved by the European Union, underlining that Greece also seeks a revision of the Dublin II Regulation and financial assistance for the European countries being pressured the most from illegal immigration.
Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party rapporteur MP Maria Kollia-Tsaroucha stated that her party approves of the draft law in principle and most of its articles, despite the fact that it is regarded as ineffective.
Opposition Communist Party of Greece (KKE) parliamentary spokesman MP Thanassis Pafilis and rapporteur MP Nikos Papakonstantinou stressed that "there will be no solution to the problem unless the causes leading to migration are eradicated".
Popular Orthodox Rally (Laos) parliamentary spokesman MP Asterios Rontoulis predicted the creation of an "industry of naturalisations".
ANA
