Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be in Evros, Greece’s northernmost prefecture, on Thursday, to present a comprehensive reconstruction plan of the region, with special emphasis on mitigating the migration issue.
PM Mitsotakis is expected present the project during an event in the municipality of Orestiada, titled “National Strategy for Regional and Local Development – We Discuss, Decide, and Proceed Together for Evros,” with a horizon set for 2027.
The prime minister’s visit highlights the need of expanding the border fence with Turkey, a critical measure to curb uncontrolled refugee flows into Greece. As Evros serves as a key entry point for migrants due to its proximity to the Turkish border, strengthening security in the region has become a top priority, due to the escalating Middle East crisis and the risk of further increased migration flows.
The Greek PM has repeatedly noted that the “Evros Fence” is not only a barrier protecting Greece’s borders but Europe’s borders as well, emphasizing that its construction should receive European funding rather than have Greece take on the entire financial burden. However, he has made it clear that Greece is determined to go ahead with its construction, with or without European funding.
At a time when developments in the Middle East are putting the broader Eastern Mediterranean region on high alert, with the risk of increased migration flows to Greece now clearly visible, the Greek authorities have been placed on high alert.
This decision followed the meeting of the Government Council for National Security (KYSEA), on Wednesday, which resulted in the country to prepare for all possible scenarios. It was deemed crucial, according to reports, to accelerate all planned projects ensuring that the actual capacity of migrant facilities reaches 100%, enabling them to accommodate any potential increase in migrants arriving in the country.
What is more, the possibility of terrorist attacks from jihadists as well as left-wing anti-Semites, a matter that concerns all of Europe, not just Greece, was also discussed at the meeting. Due to the escalating crisis in the Middle East, both the Hellenic Police and the National Intelligence Service (EYP) have also been put on high alert, with increased surveillance also in place at the borders.
