Migration Ministry moving ahead on construction of closed facilities for migrants

The Migration Ministry is pushing forward the licencing procedures for the construction of closed facilities for migrants and refugees on the islands without changing its plans and the initial timetable, Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarachi said in a radio interview on Tuesday, adding that if local administrations indicate another location within the same municipality for each facility, "it would be very helpful to us and would not change the time table."

Mitarachis clarified that suspending land requisitions, as set out by an act recently, was held in agreement with the prime minister's office, noting that "any important action carried out by the Migration Ministry the prime minister's office is fully aware of." He said that a live discussion on a TV station on Monday with the regional governor of North Aegean led to the decision for the suspension, for a few days, of the land requisitions, explaining that "local administration should assume its share of the responsibility."

Mitarachis reiterated that all the open structures operating today on the islands will shut down, and added that he will send a letter this week to the municipalities calling for a committee that will handle the shutdown procedures and deliver ownership of the corresponding land back to the municipalities.