Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has introduced strict new migration rules following the sudden arrival of migrant groups from Libya to the island of Crete. Speaking in Parliament, he announced a three-month suspension on processing asylum applications for people coming by boat from North Africa. He also said that anyone entering the country illegally will be arrested and detained.
To handle these new arrivals, the government is setting up a closed facility in Crete. This center will house migrants who come into the country without documents. The Prime Minister explained that this is a firm response to recent migrant flows and that the government is acting fast to protect the country’s borders.
These decisions come after Mitsotakis met with Migration Minister Thanos Plevris to discuss recent developments, including changes in Libya. One key event influencing the decision was the expulsion of a European mission from Benghazi by Libyan leader Khalifa Haftar. According to government sources, the plan for stronger measures was finalized Tuesday evening and publicly announced on Wednesday.
Mitsotakis compared this current situation to the 2020 migration crisis at Greece’s border with Turkey in Evros. He said the asylum freeze is a “temporary reaction” based on the same strategy used then. His comments suggest the government wants to show it is prepared and strong in handling another potential migration wave.
Why is Greece making these tough changes now?
Officials believe the country faces both a threat and a political chance. The threat is a new crisis adding pressure to citizens already dealing with many problems. The opportunity, however, is to show strong leadership, possibly winning back support from right-leaning voters, as happened in 2020 during the Evros border crisis.
The plan to create a closed migrant center is already moving forward. Migration Minister Plevris will meet with local officials in Crete on Friday to decide more details. Those attending will include Crete’s regional governor Stavros Arnaoutakis and local politicians. The Iraklio area is seen as the most likely location for the center due to available space.
Still, Greece is keeping communication open with Libya. Mitsotakis said talks with both the western and eastern sides of Libya are ongoing. He assured that Greece’s actions will be “legal and very strict” as the country deals with this new challenge.