Greece’s Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris declared on Sunday that the government will not permit a permanent migration route to form between Libya and Crete. He warned that Athens is prepared to activate every available measure if pressure increases. Speaking to the state news agency ANA-MPA, Plevris noted that sea arrivals from Libya are currently down nearly 30% compared with 2025.
However, he cautioned that summer weather conditions favour smuggling networks and the situation can change rapidly. Greece has already adjusted its operational planning in anticipation of higher pressure during the warmer months. New Reception Facilities and Chartered Vessel A new reception facility in Agiá, Chania, is now complete, while a second centre in Heraklion is under construction.
Plevris also confirmed that Greece has chartered its own vessel to transport irregular migrants to closed facilities. This measure ensures regular passenger traffic remains unaffected. Strong Results from Cooperation with Egypt Cooperation with Egypt has delivered clear results.
In the first half of 2025, Egyptian arrivals totalled nearly 4,000, with only 65 returns. In the first half of 2026, arrivals dropped below 900 while returns rose above 300. Plevris credited direct talks in Cairo focused on dismantling smuggling networks and expanding legal seasonal employment agreements.Advertising1 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Operational Ties with Libya and Frontex Greece maintains direct operational cooperation with the Libyan Coast Guard, has deployed Greek Coast Guard officers in Libya, and benefits from enhanced Frontex surveillance as close as possible to Libyan shores.
Contacts with both Tripoli and eastern Libya have produced results, but sustained pressure is required to stop boats before they depart. EU Return Hubs and Migration Pact On the European Union’s “return hubs” initiative, Plevris said Greece is actively shaping the new model and expects the first agreements with third countries to be reached within 2026. He added that the European Commission’s initial assessment of Greece’s implementation of the new Migration and Asylum Pact is positive.
Plevris stressed that Greece’s position is clear: a new Libya-Crete migration corridor will not be allowed to become established. If mass and sustained flows reappear, the government stands ready to use every l…
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