PM Tsipras to seek additional financial support for Greek islands at EU summit on refugee crisis

Gazzetta team 15 Οκτωβρίου 2015 - 21:07

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to press for greater financial support to the regions under the most pressure from refugee flows in his address to the European Council on Thursday, Greek government sources said.

They noted that the Greek islands receiving the vast bulk of the refugees face a major financial burden, while the Greek armed forces are also under strain due to a rise in expenses combined with budget cuts due to the economic programme.

Tsipras will additionally raise the issue of Afghan nationals that are currently denied asylum, even though some are fleeing war zones, and ask for greater emphasis on the identification and relocation of refugees directly from non-EU countries, such as Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, the sources said.

They also announced that French President Francois Hollande intends to carry out an official visit to Greece next Thursday and Friday, on October 22 and 23.

Earlier on Thursday, on the sidelines of the summit, Tsipras had a meeting with the head of Portugal's Left Bloc party Catarina Martins and discussed recent developments in Portugal and the role of the left. The meeting was attended by Greek MEP Dimitris Papadimoulis and Portuguese MEP Marisa Matias.