Migration must be understood as a common European challenge and solidarity between the member states, especially for the benefit of the external border states that are particularly affected, such as Greece, Deputy Interior Minister of Bavaria, in southern Germany, Sandro Kirchner, emphasized in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.

A few days ago, Kirchner visited Thessaloniki and the 88th TIF, in which Germany is the honored country, and on this occasion he spoke to ANA-MPA about the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, the role of countries such as Hungary, who do not seem willing to adopt it, Turkiye’s stance on migration but also how migration can contribute to addressing the demographic challenge that Europe is facing.

As for the Migration and Asylum Pact, Kirchner stressed that its success depends on how effectively future arrivals are identified, recorded and controlled at the EU’s external borders, as well as of the asylum process and repatriation of asylum seekers from countries with a low protection rate. “Especially Greece has an important and responsible role to play here,” he underlined.

Regarding Turkiye, the Bavarian politician pointed out that despite the difficulties, its role is important and this is the reason why the revival of the EU-Turkiye agreement is also requested.

He also referred to the pressure Germany is receiving from migration, stating – among other things – that there should be fundamental changes in the asylum policy. “These changes include, for example, the return of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan and Syria. “In general, the German government should finally conclude migration agreements with important countries of origin and transit in order to facilitate repatriation,” he noted.