Immigration in Greece?

Question

Greeks, dont you think that the problem of the immigration is serious in our country?Especially from the Balkan countries?

Answer 1

I agree that immigrants have, to a certain point, contributed to the economy of Greece. Still, there is a problem with the arrogant, provocative and frequently criminal behaviour of a great part of them, mostly Albanians, and believe me, in my capacity of Attorney at Law I do know what I' m talking about. A few years ago I started defending their rights agaist "racist" attacks, but finally ended to shut the door of my office to them, because they take advantage of legal services and then they dissapear. On the other hand, they behave as owners of this city and country. Going out in the evening with my dog, I have been verbally attacked by albanians who have even ordered me not to approach their street. Did any Greek immigrant in Germany, Australia, U.S.A. or Belgium ever dare behave like this?

Answer 2

The problem is, Leonarda, that there are jobs that Greeks won't do for the money paid to immigrants (construction, farming, etc), and in some cases they don't do it for any price! I am an architect-engineer, as you know, and I can tell you that all the major projects of the Olympics would be impossible to happen without the cheap labour of immigrants. No contractor would have any profit without them. I also know people in villages, who have olive trees. They sit in the kafeneio while they pay Albanians to harvest their olives! You'd think that they would do it themselves if the Albanians weren't there, but the truth is that they would leave agriculture altogether and open rented rooms or something, like they've done in many areas.
So naturally, immigrants also prosper in Greece -compared to their countries - and more and more come over. The problem is that there is no study or policy about how many immigrants we need and how many our economy can benefit from, so the useful ones end up illegal and the not useful ones end up unemployed and turn to crime. It's the same all over Europe, but it is important not to de-socialise immigrants and not to make them into a ghetto, because the problem of crime and bad bneighbourhoods gets worse. It is important to integrate them socially and make sure their children at least will feel Greek. Do you know that there are children who were born here, have gone to school, they have never been to the country of their parents and cannot go for political reasons, and they have no passport at all? They are not citizens of any country. They can't travel abroad and they have no permit to stay in Greece either, although they study and work here, because they must enter the country with their parents to get a permit, but being born here gives them no rights? It's absurd, but many children are at this situation (can't travel abroad, etc.). It all comes down to a policy for immigration, and there is none!

Answer 3

No - it is natural. Until 30 years ago Greeks were emigrating to more developed countries, nowadays Greece is supposed to be developed, therefore it attracts immigrants from less favoured regions.
The only problem is that (as usualy) the greek state cannot be organised and offer them what the other western countries offered to Greeks in the past (social security, educational options, equality etc) and a big percentage of Greeks themselves are racists, arrogant and "nouveaux riches".

Answer 4

Low birth rate is a bigger problem -that is why we have to import young people to pay social security etc.

Also young greeks are not willing to work hard labor (construction, farming etc) so some other guy has to do the hard work.

The worst is that Greeks first dont follow guidelines. good workers like the polish left Greece disgusted and all those tht remain in Greece Africans,Indians, pakistani and especially the Albanians stay in greece because admit it or not we have a similar mentality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

yes Leonarda, I agree with you

latest 5 years, immigration has been dangerously increased!

the percent % of immigrants, relating to native habitats of Greece, is really high

we are becoming a multi-national country
this is a result of globalization
I don't think we will be able to do something about it
cause as a member of EU, we cant forbid the immigration to our country - at least from EU countries

But this is not the problem
cause there are immigrants to all countries

the problem is that in Greece, immigrants don't easily obey to our country's rules, and they usually express hostile behaviors. As a result, the regions that they choose to live, are underdeveloped, dangerous and not easily accessible by the rest of population

This is the problem we should deal with

Immigration has many advantages too
we can learn to live in peace with each other
and share our customs, our traditions - it is really wonderful

Lets give it a chance

Answer 6

Greeks should know what it is like to immigrate to a foreign country and change your life completely.
Immigrants in our country have left theirs for a better future.
The problem with some immigrants (i.e. Albanians) is that they do not respect the country that is hosting them and the people in it.

Answer 7

when i went to Greece about 4 years ago the only thing people were afraid of were Albanians, they thought that they were dangerous and stuff. i don't really know what all that was about to be honest. so i guess they do a lot of dodgy jobs in there. i don't get it, i thought Albanians hated Greeks, too. didn't they side with the Turks. or i am talking about something else?

Answer 8

leonarda
we have the same problem in italy:
May be i'll meet you in Albania square in Athens (ex Omonia).
ciao
claudio