Greece Toughens Migration Policy
Greece will no longer tolerate the daily arrival of thousands of migrants in small boats from North Africa, Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris said on Thursday, CE Report quotes Athens-Macedonia
Speaking to SKAI TV, Plevris emphasized that the current crisis is centered on the Libyan Sea rather than Greece’s eastern border, announcing immediate deterrent measures. “If mass flows continue, Greece will reinforce its maritime border presence within international law,” he said.
Plevris stated that refugee status should be granted only to those who meet strict international protection criteria and called for a unified EU framework for migrant returns. Greece, he added, is entering a “disincentive phase,” including suspending asylum application processing, detaining irregular migrants, and reassessing social benefits.
New legislation will also criminalize staying in the country after a rejected asylum claim. The government is considering ending the HELIOS+ programme, encouraging approved asylum seekers to join the labor market instead of relying on state support.
Additional measures include mandatory age checks to prevent adults from posing as minors.
