Greece is planning to erect a wall on the border with Turkey which would protect the European Union from the flow of illegal immigrants. Recently, an operative center of border defense was formed which will be responsible for the implementation of the project.

The height of the fence covered with barbed wire will be four meters and length – around ten kilometers. It will be fitted with cameras and motion sensors. The cost of the construction, set to start in March, is estimated to be 5.5 million EUR (3.9 million LVL), and is planned to be finished by September 2012, Associated Press reports.

Land border stretch between Greece and Turkey is over 200 kilometers, although most of it is located along the Evros River. Frontex – a European border protection agency helps the Greek government to protect the border along the river. The fence will be built on the part of the border which is not located along the river. Turkey does not oppose the construction of the border wall.

According to the data from the Greek government, almost 55 000 illegal immigrants crossed the border between Greece and Turkey in 2011, moreover the main flow of immigrants to the EU goes through Greece.

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