More than 165,000 illegal migrants crossed the Mediterranean Sea the first 10 months of 2014, according to figures released by the United Nations.
Illegal migrant inflow through the Mediterranean was 60,000 people in 2013. This year’s numbers show a 223.22 percent increase, contributed mainly to the Islamic State wars raging in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Africa.
So far, 3,000 people have lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean.
Deputy Minister of European Affairs Nikos Chountis said that Greece seeks measures to promote solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility (burden sharing) between Greece and European Union member states regarding illegal migration and granting asylum. He also referred to the role of the Common European Asylum System on the issue.
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