Greece’ s migration minister on Monday called criticism from human rights groups a “badge of honor” and vowed to further toughen migration policies he called “the toughest — if not the toughest — in Europe.”
Thanos Plevris’ comments to private broadcaster Action 24 came as Greece’s conservative government, facing a rise in migrant arrivals crossing the Mediterranean from eastern Libya, pursues closer cooperation with authorities in the divided North African country and backs tougher migration measures across the European Union.
“Let me tell you something: The days when bureaucrats from Brussels or the United Nations could just show up and dictate how Greece handles the migration crisis are over,” Plevris declared.
Greece, along with some other EU member states, is in talks with African countries about establishing centers in those countries for migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected in Europe, a proposal that has drawn criticism from international rights groups.
Plevris argued that rights groups and charities assisting migrants had no role in shaping Greek migration policy.
