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Greece’s Asylum Freeze Sparks Global Outcry Amid Crete Migrant Surge

In a move that has ignited fierce backlash from human rights organizations and the United Nations, Greece has passed legislation temporarily halting asylum applications from migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. The three-month suspension, approved by parliament with 177 votes in favor and 74 against, allows for expedited repatriation without prior identification. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended the measure as a “difficult but necessary decision” in response to a sharp rise in irregular arrivals, particularly from Libya to the island of Crete. Over 7,000 migrants have reached Crete and nearby Gavdos this year, straining local resources and prompting concerns from the tourism industry. Rights groups, including the International Rescue Committee, have condemned the ban as illegal and inhumane, warning it violates international and European law. The UNHCR echoed these concerns, emphasizing that the right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right regardless of how or wh...
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Greece Rallies Libya and EU Allies to Stem Migration Surge

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called for closer cooperation with Libya and the European Union to address a sharp rise in migration flows from North Africa. Speaking ahead of a European Council summit in Brussels, Mitsotakis emphasized the need for immediate action, citing a significant increase in seaborne arrivals from eastern Libya, particularly to the southern Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos.

To counter the surge, Greece announced plans to deploy two frigates and an additional vessel off Libya’s territorial waters. The move, described as a deterrent against human traffickers, will be coordinated with Libyan authorities and European partners.

Mitsotakis also revealed that EU migration officials and ministers from Italy, Greece, and Malta will visit Libya in early July to press for stronger collaboration. “Libyan authorities should cooperate with Europe to stop migrants sailing from there or turn them back before they exit Libyan territorial waters,” he stated.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the use of longer, more dangerous migration routes from North Africa, as traffickers adapt to increased patrols along Greece’s eastern maritime borders.

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