Greece is calling for stricter European Union migration policies as it prepares for a potential influx of migrants and refugees fleeing ongoing wars in the Middle East, according to Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos. The country is seeing a significant surge in arrivals by sea, with numbers more than doubling since last fall.
Migration Crisis: By the Numbers
- Approximately 50,000 migrants expected to enter Greece by year’s end ¹
- Existing migrant camps on Greek islands at full capacity ¹
- Mainland facilities operating at 60% capacity
To address the crisis, the Greek government is considering establishing detention facilities on the islands of Rhodes and Crete ¹. Panagiotopoulos attributes the influx to conflicts in the Middle East, with most migrants arriving from the Turkish coastline and North African routes ¹. However, he notes that Lebanon has not yet reached its full potential for refugee outflow.
Greece’s EU Migration Policy Proposals
Greece seeks stricter migration policies under European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s second term, focusing on;
- More robust deportation policies
- Tougher external border controls
- Amendments to the European Migration and Asylum Pact
A landmark EU migration pact, eight years in the making, is set to take effect in mid-2026. Greek officials aim to work within the current negotiating framework to implement these changes.
“We’re seeking a European solution, firmly grounded in the framework of the European Migration and Asylum Pact,” Panagiotopoulos emphasized.
