Athens’ migration policy transformed the Greek capital during the refugee crisis. Former Mayor Giorgos Kaminis shares how cities manage migration, integrate refugees, and navigate tensions between local and national governance.Get the enhanced episode transcript here 👉🏻 https://www.emmanuel-comte.eu/product/enhanced-transcript-27/.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/caImWW1kTiAIn this interview, Emmanuel Comte speaks with Georgios Kaminis, Athens' mayor during the peak of the 2015 refugee crisis, as he recounts the pressure on housing, public services, and social cohesion. Kaminis shares how he managed an urban humanitarian emergency, from launching Greece’s first refugee camp to coordinating with over 70 NGOs. This episode offers unique insight into European asylum and migration policy, urban migration governance, and leading a city in a crisis.This interview was arranged by Xenia Saratsioti and edited by Andriana Lagoudes. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No 101034403.00:00 Introduction03:30 The 2015 Crisis Hits Athens05:58 Emergency Responses and Housing Solutions19:34 Integration Challenges and Informal Labor23:12 Refugee Families vs. Individual Migrants30:07 Security Concerns and Managing Tensions32:39 Budget, Legacy, and Institutional Innovation36:31 The Integration Gap and Political Reflections