Migration Commissioner Avramopoulos meets caretaker FM, discusses refugee crisis

The Commissioner noted that the influx of migrants will continue for as long as there is instability and a state of war in the surrounding region.

"These people want to escape war, escape persecution," he said and stressed that Europe must "defend its principles and values." Greece must be on the front line in this effort, he added, noting that these values originated in Greece and must be upheld here, "so that we are able, as Europe and as Greece, to recover our pace, our organisation and our effectiveness."

The Commissioner expressed the opinion that Greece had succeeded in this effort and was now better organised, even though it continued to face great pressure. He pointed out that this had not been the case initially and that "everyone genuinely assisted to get the reception system up and running."

Molyviatis thanked the Commissioner for the briefing and noted that his work was particularly important for both Europe and for Greece.