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Greek authorities said they plan to extend the wall along the border with Turkey this year and are seeking financial support for the Western Balkans.
Notis Mitarachi, Minister for Migration Affairs, said the steel wall will be extended from 40 to 120 kilometers and work on the issue will begin later this year.
“It is the decision of the Government to extend the wall even further and we have asked for European funds”, Mitarachi said during an interview with a Greek radio station.
He did not provide details on how much the construction of the steel wall is expected to cost.
Greece has accused Turkey of “instrumentalizing” migration, using it as a tool to put pressure on EU countries.
This claim has been refuted by Ankara, which says it alone is bearing the brunt of the migration burden, harboring close to four million refugees, most of whom have fled the civil war in neighboring Syria.
Last year, 12 countries, including Greece, requested EU funding for the construction of border walls, the construction of which is currently funded by national budgets.
The European Commission has so far not paid for the construction of the walls at the external borders, arguing that these funds would come from funds earmarked for activities for migrants, including funding from the bloc’s border protection agency, Frontex./ REL
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