ANNUAL POLICY REPORT 2012 seconded in the same area with the funding from the European External Borders Fund. Since August 2012 in implementation of the national initiative "Operation Xenios Zeus' 1881 policemen were seconded in the areas falling within the competence of Police Directorates of Alexandroupolis, Orestiada, Rodopi and Xanthi. Since December and due to a reassessment of needs that number dropped by 50%, with the majority of funding covered by the European External Borders Fund resources. Also in 2012, Greece received and distributed to all border crossing points of the country modern equipment for checking passports, border surveillance and communications. On the 8-9 October 2012 the European Commissioner, Ms Malmstrom visited reception centers as well as part of the Greek border. The Commissioner welcomed the measures to strengthen border controls in the Evros region and called, together with the Greek government, the European Parliament and the Council to accept the proposed amendment which would increase the cofinancing rate of EU for the SOLID funds in the field of immigration, asylum and borders from 75% to 95% for countries benefiting from a financial support mechanism105. 3.7.4 Frontex The involvement of Frontex in the surveillance of the Greek border is very important as Greece saves manpower, money while its European partners can have a true picture of the massive influx of illegal immigrants from the Turkish border and of the Turkish aggressive policy on issues of demarcation of Greek territorial waters. It is no coincidence that in 2012 a large number of questions were laid by Greek MEPs to the European Commission on this issue.106. On April 19, 2012 a Memorandum of Cooperation between Greece and Frontex was signed which provides for the participation of Greece in the pilot platform of electronic information exchange EUROSUR in order to combat cross-border crime, effective surveillance of the external borders of the European Union and the valid and effective dissemination of information. Through its participation, Greece aims to further strengthen surveillance of Greek borders and expand modern surveillance systems all along the Greek-Turkish border.107 105 http://ec.europa.eu/ellada/presscenter/news/archives/news_20121005_malmstrom_episkepsi_el.htm 106 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2012008071+0+DOC+XML+V0//EL http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WQ&reference=E2012-008140&language=EL http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WQ&reference=E2012-003588&language=ELhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2012008804+0+DOC+XML+V0//ELhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2012008571+0+DOC+XML+V0//ELhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2012003588+0+DOC+XML+V0//ELhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=//EP//TEXT+WQ+E-2012-005804+0+DOC+XML+V0//EL 107 http://www.hcg.gr/node/2517 41