Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, addressed the ongoing pressure of migration flows and outlined the new European mechanism designed to handle emergency conditions and mass arrivals.
Plevris: Libya is our core migration problem
Speaking on ERT News during the programme “10 me Tono,” the minister stated: “Greece’s core problem regarding migration flows is not the Aegean at this moment — where over the past nine months arrivals totalled around 6,000 (a figure that previously corresponded to just 10–15 days) — nor is it the Evros region, despite seeing higher flows this year compared to previous years, where the absolute numbers remain low.
Our core problem is Libya — the southern route. This demonstrates that cooperation between states can deliver results. Turkey has also played a role in this, as it has shifted its own migration policy and now exercises considerably tighter control over its eastern borders. Its approach is entirely different from what we witnessed during the Evros crisis of 2020. That said, we all understand that with Turkey, there is always a lingering concern: what you experience today as good cooperation is never guaranteed to last.”
He continued: “Of the 16,000 arrivals we recorded over nine months in Crete, if we had managed — and this is what we are working on now — to reduce flows from non-conflict zones, we would be looking at roughly a 30 to 40 percent reduction, making the situation far more manageable. What the Commissioner is pushing for along this route is to pressure Gulf states to cut transit flights to Libya, as this would automatically reduce a major source of arrivals. With Egypt, which was also a transit route, we currently enjoy very good cooperation and a solid agreement, and we are hopeful we can achieve the same with the Gulf states.”
The Greek proposal
Thanos Plevris revealed that “the day before yesterday, at the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg, I presented a Greek proposal that was very well received. Greece’s position is that all the tools we have are valuable when migration flows are regular — whether lower or higher — as long as they remain within manageable limits.
However, what happened in Ceuta, with 80,000 people crossing within 48 hours, or what was attempted at Evros and we managed to prevent, represents an emergency situation. Greece is therefore proposing: when migration is being weaponized, or when the numbers are sufficient to indicate a pattern of mass intrusion, a specific mechanism must be activated.
This mechanism would have the following features:
- First, enhanced border surveillance with an active Frontex presence — meaning that within the framework of international law, entry would not be permitted and borders would be sealed.
- Second, once the mechanism is activated, those who do enter the country would not have their asylum applications processed; instead, a return order would be issued. Travel documents would not be issued by the countries of origin but by the European Union, with priority given to applying pressure on origin or transit countries. Individuals would be returned under the threat of strict commercial sanctions from Europe for non-cooperating states.
The return hubs
According to the minister, Greece, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Austria have agreed to establish the first return hubs, which apply exclusively to those whose asylum applications have been rejected. As he explained: “Return hubs must be located in areas that share neither an external border with Europe nor are situated within Europe itself. We are already in discussions with three or four countries — one of which will be announced in approximately one month, once we are ready to make a formal statement.
If an asylum claim is rejected, the individual is transferred to their country of origin. If that proves difficult, we will work with a third country — which in the first phase will be located in Africa — that agrees to host them temporarily while awaiting return to their country of origin.
Europe will ensure that these centres operate according to its own standards, with full respect for human rights. By the end of this year or in January 2027, we expect to have signed the agreement with the third country. Once the agreement is signed, a pilot programme will begin within 2027, and we believe that during the Greek presidency — that is, in the second half of 2027 — we will be in a position to transition from the pilot phase to full operation.”
Concluding his remarks, the minister noted that so far, the war in Iran has not triggered any population movement toward Europe, with displacement remaining confined within the states currently experiencing tension.
