Greece plans firm hand on Afghan migrants, wants more EU help

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks during a news conference in Thessaloniki, Greece, September 12, 2021. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece would seek to block a potential wave of Afghan asylum-seekers fleeing Taliban rule and needs more European Union help on migrant issues, the prime minister said on Sunday.

The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan has brought fears of a replay of 2015 when nearly a million Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans fled to Europe by crossing to Greece from Turkey. Since then, the EU has fought over rules and is yet to agree a new migration pact.