Chios municipal council rejects plan for closed migrant centre

The municipal council of the island of Chios, in the eastern Aegean, rejected a government proposal to set up a new, closed pre-departure center for migrants on the island, in a marathon session that ended at midnight on Monday.

According to the plan discussed, the centre would be created at the 15th kilometre of the Chios-Volissos road.

Council members also rejected an alternative plan of Deputy Labour Minister and Chios MP Notis Mitarachi, who participated in the meeting, for granting municipal land at Mount Epos for the construction of the center.

Speaking at the municipal council, Mitarachi said that creating a new facility on the island is a prerequisite for the transfer of migrants and refugees and the eventual closure of the overcrowded VIAL centre.

Instead, the municipal council said it would only accept an identification centre for 500 people...