The situation in Crete has become suffocating regarding migration flows that have increased dramatically in recent times. Characteristic is that yesterday, Sunday (06/07), a record number of refugee/migrant arrivals from the Libyan coast was recorded, with 959 people disembarking in a single day. It is worth noting that today, Monday (07/07), at least 489 people have been collected and rescued since morning in two separate search and rescue operations in sea areas south of Crete and Gavdos, coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) with active participation of the Coast Guard and Frontex forces.
Read: New operation locates and rescues 259 migrants south of Crete
The first operation took place early in the morning when a Frontex vessel spotted two boats in the sea area south of Gavdos carrying approximately 230 people.
The second operation was carried out a few hours later, when three more boats with 259 foreign passengers were spotted in the sea area south of Crete.
Coast Guard offshore vessels rushed to the scene and completed the safe collection of the passengers, who were also transported to the port of Paleochora.
A short while ago, another 68 people disembarked at Chrysostomos beach and were transported to Kaloi Limenes. They are expected to depart from the area this afternoon for temporary accommodation in Heraklion.
Phenomenon intensifies since 2023
Migration pressure from Libya to Crete is not a new phenomenon but has been gradually intensifying since September 2023, when the first migration flows began appearing. From an average of 120 arrivals per month, the numbers increased rapidly, reaching 528 in February 2024. The year ended with an average of 400 monthly arrivals and a total of 4,820 arrivals.
The escalation continued in 2025, with arrivals already reaching 7,124 people by June 30, according to Coast Guard data. June particularly recorded a new record with 2,564 arrivals in one month. As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen characteristically noted in her letter to the 27 at the end of June, “illegal crossings to the European Union now originate 93% from Libya.”
Due to the deteriorating situation and suffocating pressure on the island, by order of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, since late June, Navy vessels now operate in international waters, 12 nautical miles from Libyan shores, to actively assist in deterring flows, but the situation remains extremely difficult.
Plevris visit to Libya
Among other things, aiming for cooperation with Benghazi, the Foreign Minister met with General Khalifa Haftar on Sunday. The Greek effort continues with the visit of Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris on Tuesday to Libya. Mr. Plevris will accompany EU Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner. The mission’s goal, involving Interior Ministers from Italy and Malta, is diplomatic management of the phenomenon and finding a common European solution.
Mr. Plevris, as ministry sources tell ANA-MPA, is traveling to Libya seeking substantial cooperation with the country’s authorities for deterrence purposes. Furthermore, the Ministry of Migration and Asylum has no participation or contribution in the process of apprehending and transporting illegally entered refugees/migrants until they are transferred to ministry facilities, where registration and identification take place.
