Germany's Gauck calls for European solidarity with Greece

Jan 20, 2016 German President Joachim Gauck recently welcomed his Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos on his inaugural visit to Berlin.

Speaking at a joint news conference at the Bellevue Palace, President Gauck said the meeting was expedient given the increased influx of refugees into Europe.

“Greeks are strained by this situation (refugee crisis), they have to carry a double burden as the people have to face special challenges due to the reforms the country is undergoing. It is not conceivable that they will be able to deal with this double burden without the solidarity of the European Union,”

Also speaking at the news conference, Greek president Pavlopoulos said:

“It is important to point out, with view on neighbouring Turkey, which is rightly joining the efforts, that it has to fulfill its commitments, which are determining the ways of how migrant routes lead into Germany and also the differentiation between illegal migrants and refugees.”

According to officials, more than a million migrants arrived in the Europe last year from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.