Refugees and Frontex dominated PM Tsipras meeting with German Chancellor Merkel

The meeting focused on Frontex and hotspots issues and Tsipras briefed Merkel on the progress of the works at the under construction hotspots and the relocation camps that are expected to have been completed during the next two months.

Regarding Frontex, government sources said that it was understood that Greece wishes to make use of Frontex' knowhow while also accepting assistance. It was also clarified that from the help it has requested so far only half of it has arrived to Greece.

The Greek prime minister opined that a permanent refugees relocation mechanism directly from Turkey or relocation from Greece to other European countries should be formed in order this unprecedented migration crisis to come to a halt.

It was also pointed out that Frontex staff working hours are according to the labour hours of the country they derive.

It was agreed that a structured repatriation policy for those migrants that are not entitled to asylum or refuse to apply for asylum. In this category are include those that are coming from the Turkish coasts mostly Moroccans, Algerians, Pakistanis and Iranians. The repatriation will be carried out in close cooperation with Frontex and EU based on the Greek-Turkish protocol for repatriation and in the spirit of the recent agreement between EU and Turkey.