Despite criticism from the European Union as being “pointless,” the Greek Minister for Citizen Protection, Micalis Chrisochoidis, during a visit to Brussels on April 2, said the “construction will begin shortly and also be completed very shortly.”  The EUobserver reported that Minister Chrisochoidis in defending Greece’s decision to build the new fence claimed that “the thousands of people coming into the country each year threaten social peace.” “The very essence of social peace is being questioned by this terrible humanitarian crisis. Greece is no longer ready to accept this time bomb in the foundation of its society,” the minister added.

The EU has consistently pointed out that construction of the fence “will be funded by national money.” Cecilia Malmström the EU Commissioner for home affairs noted that Greece has a poor reputation for dealing with refugees and asylum seekers. “We need more reception centres. We need to address the humanitarian situation where people who are applying for asylum can get decent treatment.”

 The EUobserver article also drew attention to the foreign policy dimension of the issue. At present, Turkey has not signed a readmission pact with the EU which has been “gathering dust as it [Turkey] waits for the EU to first open visa liberalization talks.” Turkish implementation of the pact would assist in at least some of Greece’s refugee problems