<p>Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday called on the European Union to "seriously consider" providing financial aid to help extend an anti-migrant steel fence along the border with Turkey.</p>.<p>"I think it's about time for the EU to seriously consider providing European funds for these types of projects," the head of government told AFP, on the sidelines of a visit announcing the project at Feres in northeastern Greece.</p>.<p>"After all, we're contributing towards European security and we are also contributing towards a more integrated and effective European asylum policy."</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/greek-police-arrest-dozens-in-major-migrant-smuggling-case-1205603.html" target="_blank">Greek police arrest dozens in major migrant smuggling case</a></strong></p>.<p>Athens has decided to extend by 35 kilometres (21.7 miles) a five-metre high steel fence which runs along the Evros river marking the border with Turkey.</p>.<p>The fence is currently 37.5km long, and Athens aims to carry out the extension within a year, adding a total of 100km by 2026.</p>.<p>Mitsotakis has insisted that, even without EU funds, the project, estimated at 100 million euros ($108 million), will go ahead.</p>.<p>"What you see here is an obstacle that the Greek government has built in order to protect the borders of a country which also happens to be the external borders of the European Union," he said.</p>.<p>"I've always been a firm believer that we cannot reach a new agreement on migration and asylum unless we protect our external borders.</p>.<p>"And what we're doing here, I think, is a significant contribution towards that end. What you see here has been funded exclusively by the Greek budget, by Greek taxpayers."</p>.<p>The debate on the financing of such fences resurfaced during an EU summit in February.</p>.<p>Several countries, including Austria and Greece, have called for EU funding to strengthen fences along the bloc's external borders to reduce the flow of asylum-seekers.</p>.<p>But in January, the European Commission insisted there was no money in the EU budget for this.</p>.<p>"If we were to spend money on walls or fences, there would be no money for other things," said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.</p>
<p>Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday called on the European Union to "seriously consider" providing financial aid to help extend an anti-migrant steel fence along the border with Turkey.</p>.<p>"I think it's about time for the EU to seriously consider providing European funds for these types of projects," the head of government told AFP, on the sidelines of a visit announcing the project at Feres in northeastern Greece.</p>.<p>"After all, we're contributing towards European security and we are also contributing towards a more integrated and effective European asylum policy."</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/greek-police-arrest-dozens-in-major-migrant-smuggling-case-1205603.html" target="_blank">Greek police arrest dozens in major migrant smuggling case</a></strong></p>.<p>Athens has decided to extend by 35 kilometres (21.7 miles) a five-metre high steel fence which runs along the Evros river marking the border with Turkey.</p>.<p>The fence is currently 37.5km long, and Athens aims to carry out the extension within a year, adding a total of 100km by 2026.</p>.<p>Mitsotakis has insisted that, even without EU funds, the project, estimated at 100 million euros ($108 million), will go ahead.</p>.<p>"What you see here is an obstacle that the Greek government has built in order to protect the borders of a country which also happens to be the external borders of the European Union," he said.</p>.<p>"I've always been a firm believer that we cannot reach a new agreement on migration and asylum unless we protect our external borders.</p>.<p>"And what we're doing here, I think, is a significant contribution towards that end. What you see here has been funded exclusively by the Greek budget, by Greek taxpayers."</p>.<p>The debate on the financing of such fences resurfaced during an EU summit in February.</p>.<p>Several countries, including Austria and Greece, have called for EU funding to strengthen fences along the bloc's external borders to reduce the flow of asylum-seekers.</p>.<p>But in January, the European Commission insisted there was no money in the EU budget for this.</p>.<p>"If we were to spend money on walls or fences, there would be no money for other things," said EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.</p>