On 9 and 10 October 2015, Luxembourg Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn will join European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, on visits to Italy and Greece as part of the European response to the refugee crisis.
In order to take stock of the situation on the ground following the relocation decision taken last September, the Minister and the Commissioner will meet with the Italian Minister of the Interior, Angelino Alfano, in Rome before travelling to the island of Lampedusa to visit the aid and first reception centre (CSPA) for refugees. This Centre represents one of the four 'hotspots' currently operating in the country and will allow Minister Asselborn and Commissioner Avramopoulos to meet the 21 refugees who will be the first to be transferred, from Italy to Sweden, under the newly established relocation process.
Following their arrival in Greece, the Minister and the Commissioner will hold a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Alexis Tsipras, as well as with the Minister of State for Government Coordination, Alekos Flambouraris; Minister of the Merchant Navy and Island Policy, Theodoros Dritsas; the delegate Minister for Migration, Yannis Mouzalas; and the delegate Minister for Public Order, Nikos Toskas.
Talks will focus on the implementation of the relocation mechanism in Greece and managing the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean region, following Minister Asselborn's pledge that more EU decisions regarding the crisis would soon be developed.
Photo by Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (L-R: European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos; Luxembourg Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn)
