As arrivals spike in Crete, the government revives 2020 border strategies and seeks deeper cooperation with Eastern Libya
The Greek government has announced tough new measures to curb illegal immigration from North Africa, particularly from Libya. A new amendment submitted to Parliament suspends asylum applications for anyone arriving by sea from the region.
The move comes amid a surge in migrant landings on Crete’s southern shores. Authorities will now detain new arrivals in closed camps, with the first such facility already being planned on the island.
Greece is reviving its 2020 approach used during the Evros border crisis, which included a temporary halt to asylum claims and the use of detention centres. However, this time the European Union is showing greater support, acknowledging the scale of the emerging threat.
At the diplomatic level, Athens is trying to strengthen dialogue with the authorities in Eastern Libya. A recent goodwill gesture by Khalifa Haftar’s son—visiting the Greek community in Benghazi—is seen as a positive step after last year’s tensions, though effective collaboration remains limited.
Technical teams from the EU are currently assessing Libya’s proposals, which could shape Brussels’ involvement in managing the new crisis. The Greek government insists that urgent action is necessary to avoid a new migration emergency.
