EU agency to assists Athens deport more migrants

The Greek government and the EU border protection agency Frontex on Tuesday signed a cooperation agreement in Athens.

The agreement in which the EU agency will help Athens to send migrants back to their home countries, if they were not entitled to asylum in Greece.

The voluntary return of people is also to be supported more strongly, according to the agreement between the Greek Ministry of Migration, Asylum and Frontex.

The European Union, which consists of 27 countries including Greece, must collectively address the issue of migrants’ return and increase the numbers sent to their home countries, the migration ministry said.

“A low number of returns of those who are not eligible for asylum undermines credibility and the asylum system as a whole,’’ Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi said.

Frontex will support the state with expertise in the voluntary return of migrants, among other things, it said.