ATHENS – Greece may extend its suspension of asylum application processing for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa, if irregular arrivals from Libya begin to rise again, Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said on Thursday.
The temporary measure, passed by parliament in July, halted asylum procedures for at least three months for migrants arriving from Libya to the island of Crete. The move was aimed at curbing a surge in arrivals via the southern maritime route.
In an interview with public broadcaster ERT, Plevris said an extension of the suspension “cannot be ruled out,” particularly if a “new crisis” emerges.
Since the legislation took effect on July 1, arrivals in Crete have dropped sharply — from 2,642 in the first week of July to just 900 in the weeks that followed, according to government data.
The minister also revealed plans for new legislation that would introduce stricter penalties for irregular entry. “Whoever comes into the country illegally will face a jail term of up to five years,” Plevris said, specifying that this would apply to those not fleeing armed conflict or persecution, who may otherwise qualify for asylum.
Human rights organizations have accused Greece of forcibly turning back asylum-seekers at its sea and land borders. Earlier this year, the EU border agency Frontex said it was investigating 12 cases of potential human rights violations involving Greek authorities. The Greek government has consistently denied these allegations.
“All European countries now understand that it is not possible to have open borders, it’s not possible to welcome illegal migrants with flowers,” Plevris said. “There should be a clear message that countries have borders — that Europe has exceeded its capabilities and will not accept any more illegal migrants.”
To strengthen its border control efforts, Greece has deployed two navy frigates to patrol off the coast of Libya and has begun training Libyan coast guard officers on Crete. The cooperation is part of a broader initiative to stem migration across the Mediterranean.
Greece was at the epicenter of the 2015–2016 migration crisis, when hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty passed through its territory en route to northern Europe. Since then, arrivals have decreased substantially.
While the southern islands of Crete and Gavdos have seen a localized increase in sea arrivals, overall irregular sea arrivals to Greece dropped by 5.5 percent in the first half of 2025, totaling approximately 17,000, according to United Nations data.
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