ANA-MPA — European Parliament President, Martin Schultz will visit Lesvos with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras next week, to witness first-hand the immense efforts of the Greek coast guard and the volunteers in rescuing and managing refugee flows.
Greek government sources said on Saturday, that Athens has led the efforts to activate EU institutions to address the refugee issue as a common European problem. Moreover, Schultz’s visit raises hopes that the European forces which support a humanitarian policy on the issue will be mobilized.
“The government’s aim is to highlight in its meetings the role of Greece as a frontline country in defense of solidarity and humanism, on behalf of the whole of Europe,” the sources said.
At the same time, the government is planning a series of meetings with bodies that have an immediate relation to the refugee issue, as the race to better manage and organize the reception and identification centers gets under way. The government will also attempt to effectively mobilize social solidarity, while volunteering activities will be held to inform public opinion.
About 7.500 refugees have crossed from Greece to FYROM near the border town of Idomeni in the last 24 hours, the police’s General Directorate of Macedonia told ANA-MPA on Sunday.
The flow of people continues unabated while another 2.000 are waiting to cross, police added.
