Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
Kathimerini: “Illegal immigration constitutes the most important national security threat”
“Kathimerini”, one of the oldest and most respected daily newspapers, has finally woken up to reality! In its editorial, on October 6th, the newspaper admitted that “the issue of illegal immigration constitutes the most important national security threat to the country”. Let’s just hope that such a realization has not come too late…
“Kathimerini’s” editorial can be read in full here (in Greek only)
IOM’s voluntary repatriation program starts to bear fruit
More than 300 illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, mainly from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, have already been repatriated by the International Organization for Migration in co-operation with the Ministry for Citizen’s Protection.
The IOM program was launched in Greece in August and it has been designed to repatriate about 450 illegal immigrants and asylum seekers. More than 1,300 people have already applied in order to be included in the program.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 14/10/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)
Illegal immigrants cost the NHS at least 150 million euros annually
The Minister of Health Mr Andreas Loverdos admitted in Parliament that the medical and hospital costs for illegal immigrants burden the Greek taxpayers every year with the amount of 150 million euros (or even more). The Minister claimed that more accurate figures on the issue will be available next year.
The relevant discussion in the Parliament can be read here (in Greek only)
Foreigners account for 65% of criminality in Greece
According to Police sources foreigners are responsible for about 65% of crimes committed in Greece (up from about 50% last year). It should be noted that foreigners account for “just” 10-15% of the country’s population.
The relevant article (Ethnos, 15/10/2010) can be found here (in Greek only)
Law 3838 may be unconstitutional!
According to a judicial proposition to the Council of State, Law 3838 of 2010 which made Greek citizenship easier to gain for foreigners and offered them the right to vote in local elections may contravene parts of the Greek constitution. The Council of State will decide on the issue in a forthcoming plenary session.
A relevant article (Ethnos, 8/10/2010) can be found here (in Greek only)
A more recent article on the issue (Avgi, 24/10/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)