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Athens Pleased with Migration Portfolio, 'Hot Potato' Says the Opposition

avramopoulos_luxGreece’s coalition government seems to be pleased with the appointment of Dimitris Avramopoulos as Migration Commissioner. it is considered a sign of trust toward Athens. The opposition though, thinks that Greece just received a “hot potato.”
Jean-Claude Juncker announced yesterday, September 10, the appointment of Greece’s Defence Minister Avramopoulos, as Commissioner of Migration and Home Affairs.
A career diplomat and a former Foreign Minister, Avramopoulos was the third candidate for the leadership of New Democracy party in 2009. He withdrew his candidacy at the very last moment, expressing full support for Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who was elected ahead of Ntora Bakoyannis to lead the centre-right party, currently in power in Greece.
The Greek PM seemed to be quite satisfied with the Migration portfolio. The decision of the President of the European Commission is an “exceptional honour for Greece, and an important sign of the trust in our country,” Samaras proclaimed.
He referred to Juncker as a “friend,” adding “This is a completely new portfolio that was created from scratch in order to underline the need to prioritize migration in European politics. The recognition of the need to combat illegal migration has always been a priority for the Greek government.”
“This portfolio is a reward of a long and painstaking effort to take European action in order to effectively tackle the problem.”
The Greek PM was also pleased with the appointment of Margaritis Schinas as new EU executive’s spokesman, calling him “worthy and experienced”.
Schinas, former New Democracy MP, has been head of the Task Force in Greece since May 2013. In 2010, he also served as Deputy Director of the Bureau of European Policy Advisers of Commission President José Manuel Barroso.
On Thursday (September 11), SYRIZA MP Dimitris Papadimoulis criticised the composition of the new EU executive, saying that despite having greater political character than Barroso’s “colorless” one, the new Commission will continue on the path of its predecessor.
He noted that the difference in this Commission is Juncker’s “pyramid.”
“Instead of having 28 equal Commissioners, [Juncker] decided to appoint seven first category Vice-Presidents to monitor the rest second category Commissioners,” he told Greek radio station “Alpha.”
Regarding the Migration portfolio, Papadimoulis stated that Avramopoulos must realize that he just took a “hot potato” in his hands.
“This post is indeed important and interesting. But Avramopoulos will have a head [to monitor him] Ms Mogherini,” he said, adding that the Greek Commissioner will not have “full responsibility.”
(source: euractiv)

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