European Union agreed to help Greece in the fight against illegal migration
The forces of local border guards are clearly insufficient to set up an impassable barrier on the path of illegal immigrants seeking to enter the European Union. Only last year, according to Greek authorities, there were 146,000 such illegal immigrants! Most of these people are from African countries and Afghanistan.
Until recently, refugees mainly used the sea route to Greece - across the Aegean Sea with its countless islands on the border with Turkey. However, thanks to enhanced naval patrols, the number of illegal entries into the EU here has significantly decreased. But the situation on the border river Evros near the city of Orestiada has worsened. If last year only 5,600 illegal immigrants trying to cross into Greece were registered here, then in the first 10 months of this year their number has already exceeded 23,000.
It is clear that Greek refugee camps are hopelessly overcrowded and living conditions in them are terrible. This situation is a reason for harsh criticism of Athens by a number of human rights organizations. Meanwhile, the absolute majority of illegal immigrants do not intend to stay in this country at all, seeking to get into "more prosperous" EU states. However, after the entry into force of the so-called Dublin Agreement, this is very difficult.
The fact is that according to this document, an application for legalization of an illegal immigrant in the EU can only be submitted in the first EU country in which the refugee arrived. This means that, for example, a refugee who made it from Africa to Greece, even if later moving to Germany, will be immediately extradited back to Greece, that is, to the "first country". As a result, today there is a situation where in such "border" EU states as Malta, the number of refugees, per capita, is 10 times more than in the EU as a whole, and 20 times more than in the Federal Republic (Germany).
It is clear that Brussels cannot remain indifferent to the problems of the Greek authorities with illegal immigrants. It is no coincidence that the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, has already promised Athens "full European solidarity". Recently, Brussels decided to start patrolling the border between Turkey and Greece with the Rapid Border Intervention Teams (RABITs). This structure was created in 2007 within the framework of the European Border Control Agency (Frontex). In Brussels, it is noted that RABIT units will have the legal status of Greek border troops.
How effective this EU step will be is still unclear. In any case, the total number of Frontex employees is only 220 people. The agency's task includes, first of all, professional retraining of border guards and assistance in returning illegal immigrants to their homeland. It seems doubtful that a couple of dozen European experts will be able to relieve tension on the Greek-Turkish border.
According to human rights activists, Greece systematically expels refugees, sending them on foot back to Turkey. This situation is known in Brussels, which demands that Greek authorities provide "adequate assistance" to all illegal immigrants who manage to cross the border.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the number of asylum seekers in Germany is steadily declining. For the first time in 15 years, the German state's spending on receiving and hosting refugees fell below €1 billion per year. In 2008, €842 million were allocated for these purposes, which is 19% less than the previous year. Material assistance was provided to 128,000 foreigners awaiting their fate. Of the total amount, almost 72% of funds were spent on food and basic necessities, the rest mainly on medical services. In 2009, about 26,000 people applied for asylum in the country. In 1996, the number of refugees in the Federal Republic of Germany was 490,000.
Vladimir GUSHCHIN.
