Mayor of Istanbul criticizes the migrant agreement between Turkey and the EU

The mayor of Istanbul and an opponent of President Erdogan, Ekrem İmamoğlu, sharply criticized the 2016 agreement between Turkey and the EU to readmit illegal migrants in exchange for billions of euros in aid. On Thursday, June 20, during his visit to Düsseldorf for a meeting organized by the European Association of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists, he said that Europe is using Turkey as a "wall" against refugees. He said Turkey had become a country willing to stop refugees on their way in order to receive cash and blamed the government of Recep Erdogan for this. "No country should be subjected to such injustice. The refugee problem is global." As a result, Istanbul's population has increased by 2.5 million refugees over the past ten years. "It is unfair to the refugees and it is also unfair to the people of Istanbul," he said. According to Imamoglu, the solution is to find a way to achieve peace in the troubled areas.

Turkey is home to 3.6 million refugees, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and has taken in more refugees than any other country in the world.

Greece ready to host children from Gaza

Greece is ready to accept children from the Gaza Strip, granting them asylum until the cessation of hostilities there. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Gerapetritis. He called on all European countries to take in Palestinian children threatened by the war on a voluntary basis, BNR correspondent Katya Peeva reported from Greece. Work is also underway on an initiative for the treatment of Palestinians injured in the hostilities. The union of doctors from the state hospitals in Greece has sent a letter to the health minister that the doctors agree to treat the injured voluntarily and without payment. The archbishop of Athens and all of Greece, Ieronymos, also called for an end to the war in the Middle East. The Greek Church is actively involved in the humanitarian aid that Athens sends to Palestine.

The influx of migrants along the Balkan route is decreasing

According to a video of the Italian news agency Ansa, the flow of migrants along the Balkan route to Italy has been decreasing for a year and a half. This trend is reported by the founder of the Linea d'Ombra association, which takes care of migrants arriving in Trieste, specifying: “We know from our colleagues that the influx of migrants has decreased in Bulgaria - an important external border of the EU." It is assumed that among the reasons for this are the increased prices of traffickers for the transfer of migrants, as well as the increased control, BNR correspondent Elena Shahanova reported from Italy. In front of the Chamber of Deputies, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said that after the control of the border with Slovenia was resumed in October last year because of the Balkan route, 187 people were detained, as 95 of them were arrested for assisting illegal immigration.

Half of investors in Romania plan to expand their activities

Seven out of ten investors expect Romania to become an even more attractive destination for investments in the next three years, according to a study by Ernst&Young, specialists in the field of financial consulting, quoted by "Radio Romania International". 46% of investors plan to expand their operations in the near future. The leading destination for investments is Bucharest with a share of 40%. However, the research shows a trend of outflow of investments from the big economic centers and redirection to other cities in Romania.

Cyprus compensates farmers affected by the fires with 2.8 million euros

The government of Cyprus will pay 2.8 million euros in emergency compensation to agricultural producers affected by the large fires in May and June in three regions of the country, BNR correspondent Branislava Bobanats reported. The emergency aid is for farmers and livestock breeders in the areas of Limassol, Paphos and Nicosia, who lost all or part of their production, means of production and infrastructure in the fire, Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panayiotou announced. Over 3,000 acres of agricultural land and plantations of olives, almonds, vineyards, 120 animals, as well as irrigation systems burned in Paphos. Panayiotou said that the aim was to guarantee the viability of those affected and the possibility for them to continue their agricultural activities.

Compiled by: Miglena Ivanova

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: ntv.com.tr, EPA/BGNES, alephnews.ro, neoskosmos.com