Greece has distinguished itself in the last years through exceptional efforts with handling the challenges relating to the influx of asylum seekers to the European Union.

The Federal Republic of Germany has continuously provided support with various measures, and will continue to do so, to assist Greece with this sometimes-difficult situation as a close European partner. This is reflected not least by the relocation of 2.789 persons from the Greek islands to Germany.

The enhancement of the cooperation between Greece and Germany across all fields of asylum and migration management as well as the integration of beneficiaries of international protection in Greece was the subject of yesterday’s meeting of the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarakis, and the German Federal Minister of the Interior, Horst Seehofer.

Minister Seehofer stated: "Due to its geographical location, Greece bears a significant burden by implementing asylum procedures and by providing housing and other care to asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection. Therefore, Germany will support the integration of beneficiaries in Greece, who have been granted international protection in Greece, through own financial means as well as through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union."

Minister Mitarakis said: "Greece implements a strict but fair Migration policy and it does not want to be the gateway to Europe for smuggling networks. We very much value our cooperation with Germany to ensure the protection of the external borders of the EU, work for a fair sharing of burden and responsibilities in the framework of the new Pact of Migration and Asylum and also improve the integration of those entitled to international protection. Likewise Europe needs to work better together for intensifying returns to Turkey under the 2016 EU-Turkey Joint Statement." 

For this purpose, the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees will take action in Greece jointly with the International Organisation for Migration. The intended support will focus on beneficiaries of international protection currently present in Greece.