'The return of illegal migrants must be our top priority', Plevris says at EU meeting

 Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris on Tuesday referred to the challenges Europe faces from migration, while speaking at the informal meeting of EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers taking place in Copenhagen on 22 and 23 July.
"The return of illegal migrants must be our top priority. Our message must be clear: if you enter Europe illegally or your asylum application is rejected, you have no right to remain in Europe and must return to your country," Plevris stressed in response to journalists’ questions.
When asked about the ongoing discussion on so-called return hubs, he stated that they should be established outside of Europe.
"Not just outside the European Union, but outside Europe altogether-and we need to support the third countries where these hubs will be located," he added.
Responding to a related question, the minister emphasised that there is a lot of work to be done, but noted:
"For our society, the flows of illegal migrants are extremely high. I cannot say we are able to manage them. In Crete, we have 1,000 illegal migrants trying to reach Greece every day, and in Libya there are 3 million. This means we must find solutions within a European framework, but also through our own societies."
Referring to the new migration bill currently under public consultation, Plevris pointed out that the law states that if your asylum application is rejected and you do not return to your country, this constitutes a criminal offence, punishable by two to five years in prison. "The message is clear: If you are in our country illegally, you have two options-prison or return," he stressed.

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