Greece may extend its three-month suspension on processing asylum requests from migrants arriving by sea from North Africa if migrant flows increase again, Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said on Thursday.
Speaking to public broadcaster ERT, Plevris said the government could not rule out prolonging the measure if what he called a “new crisis” emerges. In July, parliament passed legislation temporarily halting the examination of asylum claims from North Africa, primarily targeting arrivals from Libya to the Greek island of Crete.
The measure has sharply reduced arrivals. According to government figures, migrant landings in Crete dropped from 2,642 in the first week of July to just 900 in the weeks since the law took effect.
New legislation is also being drafted to introduce stricter penalties. “Whoever comes into the country illegally will face a jail term of up to five years,” Plevris said, adding that this would not apply to those fleeing armed conflict who may qualify for asylum.
Greece Defends Tougher Stance
Greece has repeatedly faced criticism from human rights groups over alleged pushbacks at sea and land borders. Earlier this year, the EU’s border agency said it was examining 12 cases involving possible rights violations by Greek authorities. The government has denied any wrongdoing.
“All European countries now understand that it is not possible to have open borders,” Plevris said. “There should be a clear message that countries have borders, Europe has exceeded its capabilities and will not accept any more illegal migrants.”
To reinforce its position, Greece has deployed two naval frigates off the coast of Libya and begun training Libyan coast guard officers on the island of Crete as part of broader cooperation aimed at stemming irregular migration.
Migrant Arrivals Remain Lower Than Previous Crises
Greece was at the forefront of the 2015–2016 migration crisis when hundreds of thousands of people crossed through its borders. While there has recently been an uptick in landings on Crete and the smaller island of Gavdos, overall sea arrivals have dropped 5.5% in the first half of 2025, according to U.N. data, totaling around 17,000.
