The Greek government said that because of concerns that immigrants might try to cross the border into EU countries on a large scale, the Greek government has finalized a plan to build a wall on the northeast border with Turkey.
Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said that a 26-kilometer (16-mile) separation wall will be added to the existing 10-kilometer (six-mile) fence. This is a 63 million euro (74 million U.S. dollar) project that will be completed by the end of April 2021.
After Turkey said it would no longer block immigrants trying to enter the European Union and thousands of immigrants trying to enter Greece, a standoff took place at the border earlier this year.
The dispute between the two countries has triggered dangerous military buildups and fears of conflict in the region, and there are also differences in energy rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
Four Greek construction companies have been selected to build the new walls and upgrade the existing fence sections that run along the fence or the Evros River near the border.
According to the Ministry of Public Order of Greece, the five-meter (15-foot) wall will be made of galvanized square steel tubes and a concrete foundation. On Monday, police officials told the Associated Press that there are also plans to build a surveillance camera network covering the entire 192-kilometer (120-mile) Greek-Turkish border, and that the police have begun trial using high-power mobile sirens to stop immigrants from trying to cross.
