ATHENS — Greece’s migration minister defended the country’s stringent migration policies on Monday, dismissing criticism from human rights organizations as a "badge of honor" and pledging to intensify measures he described as among the toughest in Europe. Thanos Plevris made the remarks during an interview with private broadcaster Action 24 as the Greek government confronts an increase in migrant arrivals across the Mediterranean, particularly from eastern Libya.
Greece’s conservative administration is pursuing enhanced cooperation with eastern Libyan authorities amid growing migrant crossings, with the goal of curbing departures from the North African country. Plevris asserted that external bodies, including the European Union and United Nations, no longer have influence over how Greece manages its migration challenges. "The days when bureaucrats from Brussels or the United Nations could just show up and dictate how Greece handles the migration crisis are over," he said.
The Greek government is among EU members engaged in discussions with various African nations about establishing migrant processing centers outside Europe for those whose asylum requests have been rejected. This initiative has faced criticism from international rights groups, who argue that it undermines protections for vulnerable migrants. Plevris countered that such organizations and charities have no role in shaping Greek migration policy, adding that expressions of concern from Amnesty International, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and UN envoys only reinforce his approval of current legislation.
On Monday, Saddam Hifter, deputy commander of armed forces in eastern Libya, visited Athens for talks with Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Greece is offering training for the Libyan coast guard as well as support for employment and investment projects in the region as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and reduce migrant flows across the Mediterranean.
Despite an EU-wide decline in migrant crossings from North Africa and the Middle East, Greece has experienced a notable rise in arrivals on the island of Crete. Greek authorities reported that migrant arrivals and interceptions near Crete increased by over 20% to 5,500 through May compared with the same period last year, with numbers continuing to grow since early June.
Libya remains a significant transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to reach Europe. Years of instability have allowed human trafficking networks to flourish, smuggling migrants across Libya’s borders with six neighboring countries: Chad, Niger, Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia. Jalel Harchaoui, an analyst specializing in Libyan politics and security, noted that authorities in eastern Libya are seeking closer diplomatic ties and financial assistance from European countries amid this evolving context.