Koumoutsakos to BBC: Effective implementation of EU-Turkey Statement needed

He especially noted the importance of effective implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement, especially with respect to dismantling trafficking networks operating in Turkey, stricter surveillance of the Turkish shore and a more effective policy of returns from Greece.

Koumoutsakos noted that the previous government had left a "closed" system of migration-refugee inflows without the corresponding outflows and "an extremely problematic situation on the islands and on the mainland". This was then compounded by a further increase in migration flows due to broader geopolitical developments, he added.

He outlined initiatives being prepared by Greece on a European level for a more effective returns mechanism and on a national level to speed up examination of asylum applications.

The minister also called for active solidarity on a European level with a fairer redistribution of refugee and migrant flows, noting that responsibility for the specific issue was shared by all EU member-states.