Greece is taking urgent action to deal with the sharp rise in migrant arrivals from Libya to Crete, as pressure builds on the country’s borders. On Monday, Greece’s Migration and Asylum Minister, Athanasios Plevris, traveled to Libya along with a high-level EU team to discuss stronger cooperation with Libyan authorities on controlling migration.
Plevris was joined by Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Migration, and interior ministers from Italy and Malta. The visit includes meetings with both governments in Libya—one in Tripoli and the other aligned with Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi—to seek better control over migrant departures from the North African country.
Greek officials say this visit is more than symbolic. It marks a serious move toward direct cooperation with Libyan authorities to reduce the flow of irregular migration to Europe. The goal is to stop the boats before they even leave Libya’s shores, as part of a wider EU plan to protect its external borders and address the root causes of migration.
Greece, especially the island of Crete, is feeling the impact of this growing problem. In 2023, the number of people arriving from Libya was already rising, but it exploded in 2024 and 2025. In February 2024 alone, 528 migrants arrived in Crete, and by the end of the year, the monthly average reached 400 people, totaling nearly 4,820 for the year.
The crisis has worsened in 2025. By June 30, the Hellenic Coast Guard reported 7,124 new arrivals from Libya. In June alone, 2,564 people landed on Crete. One record-breaking day—last Sunday—saw 959 migrants arrive in a single day, the highest number ever recorded. More came on Monday, overwhelming local services and creating a serious humanitarian situation.
This surge forced the Greek government to act fast. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ordered Greek navy ships to patrol the waters near Libya. Since late June, these ships have been operating close to the Libyan coast, trying to stop migrant boats from heading toward Crete and the rest of Europe.
The European Commission also acknowledged the urgency of the situation. In a letter to EU leaders, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that 93% of recent illegal crossings into the EU began in Libya. She warned that unless action is taken at the source, the pressure on border countries like Greece will continue to grow.
The Greek visit to Libya is part of a larger European strategy to work with countries where migration starts. By improving security cooperation and targeting smuggling networks, Greece and the EU hope to limit dangerous crossings and prevent more lives from being lost at sea.
As arrivals increase, so does the risk to both the migrants and local communities. Greece is now calling for stronger EU support, more funding, and joint action with African countries like Libya to stop the crisis before it becomes unmanageable.