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Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras requested a change in the Dublin Regulation on illegal immigration, the provisions of which stipulate that illegal immigrants captured in the member states shall return to the territory of the country through which they have entered the European Union. He made the request during a surprise meeting with Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos according to whom Europe was also "ripe" for such a change. However, he stressed that the change should be discussed with the member states and be approved by the European Council.

"A double solidarity is necessary, with the people who flee from wars on the one hand, and with the countries that are the gateway to the European Union on the other, Greece being among them as well", Alexis Tsipras said after the meeting. Both politicians united around the idea of ​​Greece to develop a national immigration strategy in line with European legislation. Dimitris Avramopoulos stressed that the immigration issue should not be linked to the negotiations with Greece's creditors, nor should it become the subject of political speculation.

A new tragedy involving illegal immigrants occurred in the Aegean Sea just a few hours before the meeting between Alexis Tsipras and Dimitris Avramopoulos. The Turkish coastguard service was able to rescue seven people in the waters of the southeastern island of Simi while seven others drowned after the boat by which they had been travelling turned upside down. According to survivors, there were 20 people aboard. The search for possible survivors is underway and the rescue operation involves the Greek coastguard as well.