George Koumoutsakos

The Netherlands will give Greece a 62-bed mobile hospital unit for refugee facilities, as part of a broader agreement on migration reached between Alternate Minister of Migration George Koumoutsakos and Dutch Migration Minister Ankie Broekers-Knol on Friday.

Greece is tightening controls on its sea border with Turkey following rumors of a plot to send migrants infected with the novel coronavirus to Greek shores. Due to the extreme sensitivity of the issue, officials in Athens have maintained a cautious stance.

As tensions at migrant camps on the Aegean islands simmer amid continuing arrivals, the government is looking at ways of accelerating the return of those whose asylum applications are rejected.

Greece's position regarding the future of the migration and asylum pact that the European Commission is expected to table in the coming months rests on three fundamental principles. Based on a letter from Greece's Alternate Minister for Migration Policy George Koumoutsakos to European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, the main points are: a European solution to a European challenge,

The Greek government on Wednesday announced a new Ministry of Migration and Asylum as part of efforts to accelerate policy implementation in the area.
The new ministry will be led by Notis Mitarakis, who had until now served as deputy minister of Labor and Social Affairs, according to a statement by the government spokesman.

Five closed pre-departure centers for migrants are expected to open on the Aegean islands of Samos, Chios, Lesvos, Kos and Leros, with details to be announced by government spokesman Stelios Petsas on Wednesday. 

The centers are to host no more than 5,000 people each and are expected to replace the open camps such as Moria and Vathy. 

Greece's Alternate Minister for Immigration Policy George Koumoutsakos has accused Turkey of exploiting the migration crisis to pursue its "geostrategic goals," while urging European Union governments to do more to share the burden of hosting refugees.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with the Minister of Migration Policy of the Republic of Greece George Koumoutsakos. Prime Minister Borissov stressed that Bulgaria and Greece have traditionally had similar positions on migration and asylum.

The government is preparing a comprehensive plan to address all aspects of the migration and refugee crisis Alternate Citizen's Protection Minister for Migration George Koumoutsakos said after an inter-ministerial meeting at the Citizen's Protection Ministry.

Turkey issued a navigational telex (NAVTEX) to announce that it is reserving an area surrounding the territorial waters of the small Greek island of Kastelorizo in the southeastern Aegean on October 31, for a search and rescue exercise.

According to the marine advisory, the Turkish Navy will block the area to marine traffic for four hours, starting at 11 p.m.