Following a diplomatic incident in Benghazi that saw Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar expel a European migration delegation, the Greek government is preparing a new wave of strict measures to stop migrant arrivals from Libya to Crete.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is being briefed by Migration Minister Thanos Plevris today at Maximou Mansion after the European delegation, which included ministers from Greece, Italy, and Malta, was declared persona non grata in Eastern Libya.
Greece is now expected to announce the creation of closed detention centres in Crete, where all new arrivals from Libya will be held — reportedly “in handcuffs” — before facing expulsion. Asylum applications for those arriving from Libya are also expected to be frozen, regardless of nationality.
According to government sources, the goal is to send a clear message: “Those who arrive here will not be free to roam or continue their journey to another EU country.” The framework, reportedly inspired by a draft bill prepared by former Minister Makis Voridis, will criminalise illegal stay in Greece and lead to immediate imprisonment, pending deportation.
Among the nationalities most frequently arriving via Libya are Egyptians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis — citizens of countries considered “safe” and thus ineligible for asylum under EU guidelines. Only Sudanese nationals, due to the war in their country, may qualify for protection.
This shift comes amid growing alarm in Athens, where daily arrivals in Crete are approaching 1,000 people, severely overwhelming local capacity and facilities. The Coast Guard is reportedly struggling to intercept vessels before they reach Greek waters due to the lack of cooperation from Libyan authorities.
The diplomatic fallout with Haftar’s government only deepened concerns. While Greek officials believe the incident in Benghazi was politically staged to signal Libya’s frustration with EU non-recognition of Haftar’s administration, it also raises doubts about future cooperation.
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis stressed that “the measures must reverse the logic of attraction, countering the ‘open-door’ perception.” Greece is expected to push Brussels for more support, having already emphasised to the EU the dire situation on the ground.
Despite the setback, Athens hopes to keep communication channels open with Haftar’s faction, noting that just days earlier, the Foreign Minister had visited both Tripoli and Benghazi without incident. But the growing migrant flows and diplomatic instability leave little room for delay.
