A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Minister of Migration and Asylum, Mr. Notis Mitarachi, and the EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs, Mr. Ylva Johansson, for the construction of a Model Camp in Lesvos.

Υπεγράφη από τον Υπουργό Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου, κ. Νότη Μηταράκη, και την Επίτροπο Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων της Ε.Ε., κ. Ylva Johansson, Μνημόνιο Συνεργασίας για τη δημιουργία πρότυπης δομής φιλοξενίας στη Λέσβο.  

The new camp will be a product of good cooperation between the Greek Government, the European Commission and the European institutions (EASO, FRONTEX, EUROPOL, FRA) and will meet all European standards. It will have modern and durable infrastructure, will provide complete health care and will take into account the needs of women, children and families.

The stay in the camp will be short (a few months), until either an asylum decision or a return decision is issued. The same rule applies to all Reception & Identification Centers at entry points.

The resources and the know-how are provided by the European Commission, which will be in close cooperation with the Greek authorities for the joint monitoring and supervision of the project management.  

The Greek authorities and the European Commission will cooperate on all key strategic issues related to the establishment of the Camp and the implementation of the program, while the Memorandum of Understanding does not change the responsibilities of the Greek authorities for the design, construction and management of the new camp, as well as for decisions in the areas of asylum or return, or any other decisions relating to decision-making, public policy, public health or national security.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is the pillar of a holistic approach to migration, as expected to be reflected in the new Migration and Asylum Pact, to ensure compliance with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights obligations to Europeans and third country nationals. At the same time, it is linked to the implementation and further development of a strategic approach on reception, children and unaccompanied minors in migration, integration, asylum and migration management as a whole.

The Minister of Migration and Asylum Mr. Notis Mitarachi, among others, stated:

"Following the agreement of the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, we are cooperating with the European Commission and the local community of Lesvos, to create a model hospitality structure on the island. With our common motto "no more Moria", we create the new closed / controlled structure of Lesvos that will allow us to permanently close the temporary structure in Montenegro, as well as will be a guide for the new structures in the other islands of the Eastern Aegean.

On this occasion, I would like to emphasize that we must not forget the EU-Turkey Joint Declaration, which provides for the end of irregular transit. Instead, we must protect human life and prevent traffickers from endangering people. With non-navigable, unregistered boats, driven by people without license and experience. The international community, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, NGOs, especially the EU, must put an end to this.

Έτσι, δεν  θα βλέπουμε ανθρώπους να πνίγονται ξανά στο Αιγαίο, όπου χθες η τουρκική ακτοφυλακή δεν έσωσε ανθρώπους που προσπαθούσαν να περάσουν στα ελληνικά ύδατα, αλλά τους προέτρεψε να συνεχίσουν».

Read the European Commission's Press Conference.

Μνημόνιο κατανόησης για τη δημιουργία και τη λειτουργία νέου Κέντρου Υποδοχής και Ταυτοποίησης πολλαπλών σκοπών στη Λέσβο / Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment and operation of a new Multi-Purpose Reception and Identification Centre on Lesvos:

Μνημόνιο κατανόησης για τη δημιουργία και τη λειτουργία νέου Κέντρου Υποδοχής και Ταυτοποίησης πολλαπλών σκ… by Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum on Scribd

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