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You know that there is much talk about solidarity in Europe. There should be solidarity with the problems of the peripheral countries of the Union, but we must help ourselves too.

Illegal immigration in Greece is another serious problem that contributes to the problem of homeless people, mainly in big cities. What measures are being taken to curb the problem at European level?

Immigration and the related issues are some of the most important questions that have to be resolved in parallel with economic issues. Now, there really is a great influx of immigrants from North Africa, Middle East and beyond, who come to Greece worn-out, exhausted, to find a better life. They come into the country mainly from Evros, where the border with Turkey is. A few years ago the influx of illegal immigrants came mainly from the Aegean Sea, but now, the main wave is coming from Evros. There is an alarming trend in the current period of crisis - young people in Greece are leaving the country and seeking opportunities abroad while illegal immigrants are increasing and they want to find jobs here. They rarely have identity documents with them or can actually be effectively integrated into the Greek reality. The result is an explosive situation that threatens the public interest.

We would like Europe to understand that the illegal immigrants coming to Greece do not do it because they have suddenly fallen in love with the country. They come here because Greece is the first country in the euro area and at the same time, it is next to Turkey and is the end frontier of Europe. This is the easiest way to take people from the Middle East and other regions to settle somewhere in Europe. Therefore, the problem of illegal immigration is a problem of the whole community, not just of Greece.

For now, Frontex (the European organization for border security) has helped in the region of Evros. It has been there for a year but it could not be said that the problem is under control or limited. There are funds available in this area, but they are not utilized. In 2012, the negotiations for a new legalization programme for a single shelter will be completed. The programme will enable the introduction of unified processes across the European Union for giving shelter to refugees and immigrants. Last week, I visited the island of Lampedusa in Italy, where thousands of refugees have settled after the onset of the crisis in Libya and Indonesia. To show the size of the problem, I can tell you that around 60,000 illegal immigrants have concentrated on a small island between the two continents, given that the local people number only 5,000. All this leads to a sole conclusion: to be able to create a single policy to address the problems of illegal immigration, there should be an equal distribution of burdens and obligations among the countries of Europe. What Greece wants is some of the average 150,000 illegal immigrants entering the Greek country each year to be forwarded to other countries in order to control the volume. In this way, we could help the needy, isolate those who are dangerous and take care to efficiently introduce the rest into society. Thus, we will be able to protect Greek citizens and to ensure their movement in a secure environment. You know that in Athens, there are neighbourhoods that have become ghettos, crime is extremely high and their residents are afraid to go out on the streets after dark. We have to prevent this phenomenon from spreading.

To improve the situation, closer cooperation between Member States should be sought. And to make an agreement between Turkey and Europe to deport illegal immigrants who have come from Evros.

Are the countries of northern Europe willing to share the burden of illegal immigration and to help border countries like Greece, Italy and Spain deal with the problem, and to what extent, according to you?
 
Thank you for this question because this is actually one of the biggest problems of illegal immigration in Europe. In theory, the north European countries say they are ready to help, but in practice, things are different. Bulgaria also has a serious problem in this respect, but not much has been done to help it. Generally, north European countries are exerting serious pressure on south Europe and it is in very bad position now. This applies not only to immigration but also economic issues. Let us hope that we will be able to find common ground and ways to cooperate to move forward.

Does Greece hold a trump card that it could use in order to obtain the required assistance by Member States on immigration issues faster?

Our only trump-card is fulfilling our obligations. In the last two years, we had a government that did not comply with almost any of its promises, and received major financial support. Laws were voted but were not applied effectively. This has created a climate of serious distrust and the first thing we should do to enter into negotiations is to be accurate in fulfilling our obligations from now on. I.e. to implement what we promise. This will give us the basis to enter into a real and constructive dialogue and to renegotiate the conditions, which are not good today.