Greece’s Migration Minister Thanos Plevris announced Thursday that the country may extend its controversial three-month suspension of asylum applications for migrants arriving from North Africa by sea if crossings from Libya increase again.
The policy, enacted in July by the center-right government, has already sharply reduced arrivals to Crete—from 2,642 in early July to just 900 in the weeks since—but Plevris cautioned that a “new crisis” could trigger further restrictions.
Crackdown Intensifies as Jail Terms for Illegal Entry is Implemented
The Greek government is drafting stricter laws that would impose prison sentences of up to five years for migrants entering the country illegally unless they qualify as refugees fleeing armed conflict. Plevris defended the measures, stating, “Europe has exceeded its capabilities and will not accept any more illegal migrants.”
This staunch stance has drawn condemnation from human rights groups, who accuse Greece of illegal pushbacks at its sea and land borders. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) is currently investigating 12 alleged cases of Greek border force violations.
As part of its escalating deterrence strategy, Greece has dispatched two naval frigates to patrol Libyan waters and is training Libyan coast guard personnel on Crete. The collaboration aims to disrupt smuggling networks and reduce migrant departures from North Africa, a key transit route for asylum seekers attempting to reach the EU.
Remembering the 2015 Migration Crisis
While Greece remains haunted by the 2015–16 refugee crisis, when over a million migrants transited through its islands, current arrivals tell a more complex story. UN figures reveal a 5.5% drop in overall sea arrivals to Greece this year (17,000 in H1 2023), despite spikes on Crete and Gavdos. The contrast highlights Athens’ determination to prevent a repeat of the past—even as critics warn its policies risk violating international law.
Why It Matters
Plevris’ declaration that “all European countries now understand that it is not possible to have open borders” mirrors the general shift in EU migration politics. With frontline states like Italy and Malta also tightening controls, Greece’s experiment with asylum bans could set a precedent for harder borders across the bloc and raise critical questions about humanitarian safeguards and the future of refugee protection in Europe.
