Greece is heading into today's emergency EU migration summit with a firm set of demands, led by Migration Minister Thano...

Greece is heading into today's emergency EU migration summit with a firm set of demands, led by Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, who is expected to present a package calling for stricter border enforcement and an end to policies that smuggling networks use to lure migrants into Europe. The video conference, held August 3, brings together EU interior ministers after recent scenes from Ceuta underscored how migration pressure on Europe's borders has not eased. Mitsotakis pointed to the Ceuta incidents in a post over the weekend, saying the situation proves migration remains one of the EU's biggest challenges. Greece's position centers on three things: tighter external border controls, harsher migration policy across the board, and removing any incentives that trafficking networks exploit to promise easy settlement in European countries. Athens has been pushing this line since 2019 and believes its own model, forged partly through the 2020 Evros crisis, should now become the EU standard. According to Skai, Greece played a key behind-the-scenes role in shaping the joint letter signed by 22 European leaders addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Athens reportedly helped soften language that would have called for isolating third countries that Europe actually needs as partners in fighting smuggling networks. Mitsotakis said Greece has applied a strict but fair migration policy consistently for the past seven years, and that this approach now largely reflects the common European direction. The joint letter from EU leaders echoes Greek positions to a significant degree, which Athens views as a vindication of its long-standing stance. #Greece #EUMigration #BorderSecurity