Valérie Pécresse in Greece praises the country’s “remarkable” model on the issue of migrants

Forgotten, the slum in which up to 9,000 migrants have piled up. The Greek authorities welcome Valérie Pécresse in a new structure, made up of prefabricated buildings. The Les Républicains candidate for the presidential election is traveling to Greece to establish her international stature. For this, she visited the migrant camp on the island of Samos, a model in this area. Here, we sleep in bunk beds, there are toilets and a kitchen area.

Asylum seekers themselves stress this: reception conditions are much better. “As far as housing and health security are concerned, it’s really very good”, testifies a Congolese. “But there are still things that we regret, like the fact that people don’t really have access to the outside.” Indeed, only asylum seekers awaiting a response have the right to leave. Those who have been rejected twice go to detention.

“It’s still quite remarkable, Judge Valérie Pécresse. The NGOs come in, there are schools for the children, very high security, a real welcoming comfort… And at the same time, there is real firmness. If you don’t have the right to be there, you go back to your country.”

Camps like this should be built in all southern European countries, says presidential candidate LR, who also wants to help countries better control their land and sea borders. For this, it wishes to strengthen the Frontex organization.

Valérie Pécresse already imagines being the engine of this change if she is elected president. If so, she will also have to preside over the Council of the European Union for two months.