Amid growing tensions and fresh developments between Greece and Libya—European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for urgent, coordinated EU action to manage the mounting migration pressure across the Central and Eastern Mediterranean; highlighting Libya and Greece as flashpoints of concern.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for intensified political engagement and operational efforts across the European Union to manage migration effectively.
Illegal border crossings
In a detailed briefing to EU colleagues, von der Leyen underscored that while overall illegal border crossings into the EU decreased by 21% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, challenges remain, particularly on the Central Mediterranean route. Libya, she noted, accounts for a staggering 93% of the illegal departures along this route. More worryingly, there has been a 173% increase in arrivals to Greece from Eastern Libya, indicating a sharp rise in migratory pressure on the Eastern Mediterranean front.
Migrants gather at the port of the village of Sfakia, following a rescue operation at open sea, on the island of Crete, Greece, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou
“The political and security situation in Libya is extremely critical,” von der Leyen said, stressing the importance of maintaining cooperation with Libyan authorities. She announced that Commissioner Brunner will soon visit Libya to engage with officials in both the east and west of the country. The EU aims to bolster efforts in border control, search and rescue operations, combating migrant smuggling, and facilitating voluntary returns from Libya to migrants’ countries of origin.
EU Migration Strategy
Greece, facing the brunt of increasing arrivals from Libya, is viewed as a key frontline state in the EU’s migration strategy. Von der Leyen emphasized that proper reception conditions and effective border procedures are crucial in determining Member States’ preparedness for implementing the EU’s newly adopted Pact on Migration and Asylum, which enters into force in 2026.
The Pact, adopted in June 2024, has initiated a transformative overhaul of the EU’s asylum and migration systems. As the transition period nears its midpoint, von der Leyen called on Member States to intensify work on implementing critical components of the Pact, including upgraded asylum databases, faster border procedures, and the newly introduced mandatory solidarity mechanism.
epa10538429 (L-R) Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attend an EU Summit in Brussels, Belgium, 23 March 2023. EU leaders will meet for a two-day summit in Brussels to discuss the latest developments in relation to ‘Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine’ and continued EU support for Ukraine and its people. The leaders will also debate on competitiveness, single market and the economy, energy, external relations among other topics, including migration. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
Additionally, she stressed the need for sustained partnerships with third countries as part of a “whole-of-route” migration policy. This includes ongoing support to Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, and others for return operations, visa management, and migration control.
Von der Leyen warned that the use of migration for political leverage in fragile regions like Libya cannot be ignored. “We must be able to engage with various actors on the ground,” she said, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to a “Team Europe” approach that combines financial, diplomatic, and operational tools.
As arrivals rise from Libya to EU shores, particularly to Greece, von der Leyen’s message was clear: a united, coordinated, and proactive stance is critical if Europe is to manage migration effectively, uphold its values, and safeguard its borders.
