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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-03-31
CONTENTS
[01] Commission: April 4 target for start of 1:1 resettlement scheme
from Turkey remains
[02] Auctioning of new Athens metro line to start in summer
[01] Commission: April 4 target for start of 1:1 resettlement scheme
from Turkey remains
BRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ M. Aroni) The April 4 target for the start of a 1:1
resettlement scheme of refugees from Turkey remains, European Commission
spokesperson for migration issues Natasha Bertaud said on Thursday. On
April 4, she explained, the EU will begin returns of asylum seekers
whose applications have not been accepted and can receive protection in
Turkey, at the same time as a programme for the resettlement of Syrian
refugees from Turkey to the EU.
Bertaud did not go into the operation's practical details, noting
only that Greek and Turkish authorities were working together closely,
with the assistance of EU coordinator for the refugee crisis Maarten
Verwey. European Commissioner for Migration Policy Dimitris Avramopoulos
and Verwey will visit Ankara on April 3, she added.
With respect to the legislation that needs to be passed in order for
asylum seekers to be returned to Turkey, Bertaud said that Greece was
expected to pass this over the next few days. Turkey, on its part,
must also pass the relevant legislation by April 4 and the visit by
Avramopoulos to Ankara aimed to facilitate this, she added.
Bertaud underlined, however, that Turkey's policy regarding refugees
must be fully compatible with international standards on human rights.
[02] Auctioning of new Athens metro line to start in summer
The first section of Athens' fourth metro line will be auctioned off
during the summer and the second by the end of the year, Infrastructure
Minister Christos Spirtzis said on Thursday in an interview with public
broadcaster ERT.
The aim, he said, is to auction two-thirds of the project by the end
of 2016.
Line 4 will cost 3.5 billion euros and will be constructed with a
public–private partnership (PPP) and not by concession, which will
make it the country's first such project in this category.
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