continuous influx of irregular migrants through the region, but also have a fundamentally 'symbolic' value since it would send the message that Greece was taking its border management seriously.53 Figure 3: Graphical Representation of the Fence’s Structure The construction of the fence started on October 2011 and was completed on December 2012. The initial proposal foresaw the construction of a 12,5 km fence at an estimated cost of EUR 4.8 million,54 later raised to EUR 5.5 million. An early attempt to draw funding from the External Borders Fund was rejected by the European Commission as “pointless”, since “ […]Fences and walls are short term measures that do not solve migration management issues in a structural way”.55 In the Commission's view, technical equipment, such as thermal cameras, X-rays, and specially equipped vehicles, was preferable in terms of effectiveness. The final construction is 10,365 km long and runs along the north-eastern side of the GreekTurkish borders, between the villages of Kastanies and Nea Vyssa. It consists of two cement 53 See Minister of Citizen Protection, Statements to Media, 6 August 2012, available at http://www.minocp.gov.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&lang=&perform=view&id=4076&Itemid=529 54 See Minister of Citizen Protection, Parliamentary Reply, 4 August 2011, available at: http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/67715b2c-ec81-4f0c-ad6a-476a34d732bd/7459324.pdf 55 See “Minister in EU rove over fence”, Kathimerini newspaper, 7 February 2012, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_07/02/2012_426615 Page 27