Key facts
- Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris described criticism of his country's tough migration policies as a 'badge of honor.'
- Plevris vowed to further toughen policies, calling them 'the toughest — if not the toughest — in Europe.'
- Greece is cooperating with authorities in eastern Libya to curb migrant departures.
- The Greek government is discussing proposals with African nations to establish centers for rejected asylum seekers.
- Migrant arrivals on the island of Crete have increased by over 20% through May compared to the previous year.
Greece's migration minister, Thanos Plevris, has declared that criticism from human rights organizations and international bodies regarding the country's stringent migration policies is a "badge of honor." Speaking to Action 24, Plevris asserted that Greece's conservative government is implementing the "toughest" migration measures in Europe and will continue to do so, particularly in response to an increase in migrant arrivals crossing the Mediterranean from eastern Libya.
Plevris stated that the era of "bureaucrats from Brussels or the United Nations" dictating Greece's migration approach is over, emphasizing that groups like Amnesty International and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have no role in shaping national policy. This stance comes as Greece, alongside other EU member states, explores agreements with African nations to establish centers for processing migrants whose asylum claims are rejected in Europe.
The minister's comments coincided with meetings in Athens between Libyan official Saddam Hifter and Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Greece is offering training and support to eastern Libyan authorities to bolster cooperation aimed at reducing migrant departures. Data from Greek authorities indicates a rise of over 20% in migrant arrivals and interceptions off the island of Crete through May compared to the same period last year, with the pace accelerating since early June.
Libya serves as a critical transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East heading to Europe, with trafficking networks exploiting the country's instability. Analyst Jalel Harchaoui noted that eastern Libya is actively seeking enhanced diplomatic ties and financial aid from European countries.