German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock visited refugees in a refugee camp in Greece today after stressing that European Union countries must do more to protect people seeking asylum from war and hardship, AP reported, quoted by BTA .

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German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock toured a Holocaust memorial in Athens before visiting refugees in a camp west of the city.

She used the visit to promote what she called a "common European maritime rescue policy" and to oppose swift deportations of asylum seekers and migrants. "Our European values ​​also apply to Europe's external border.

If we don't protect them there, they will perish," Berbock said.

Greece intercepts boats carrying migrants and asylum seekers heading for its eastern islands from the nearby Turkish coast.

Human rights groups claim the country is carrying out hasty deportations, known as pushbacks, which the Greek government denies.

The EU's border protection agency (Frontex) has reported a sharp rise in unauthorized border crossings since the easing of travel restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

The agency said illegal crossings increased by 84 percent in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2021. The biggest increases were recorded in the Eastern Mediterranean, up 125 percent, and in the Western Balkans, where illegal crossings were increased by 191 percent.

Hungary is beefing up its border security to protect against a growing number of migrants

Police in North Macedonia said 88 migrants from Syria, Pakistan, India and Yemen were found crammed into a truck near the southern border town of Gevgeli.

The 35-year-old driver was detained.

Berbok will meet tomorrow with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.

Migrant crisis