A broad meeting was held at the Ministry of Migration and Asylum at noon on July 11, 2025, to discuss the escalating migration flows to Crete.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, with the participation of key figures including Giannis Kefalogiannis, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, and MP for Rethymno; Sevgi Voloudaki, Deputy Minister for Migration and Asylum and MP for Chania; Stavros Arnaoutakis, Governor of Crete; and Giorgos Marinakis, Mayor of Rethymno and President of the Crete Municipalities Union.
The primary topic of discussion was the establishment of a permanent temporary detention center on Crete to manage the influx of migrants, particularly those coming from North Africa. The parties present expressed their concerns and perspectives within a framework of mutual understanding of the situation. While the meeting focused on the need for a closed temporary detention center, the exact locations under consideration were not disclosed.
Minister Plevris presented measures already implemented to decongest the situation, noting that the government has activated specific deterrence, surveillance, and reception measures aimed at securing local communities while fully respecting the country’s international obligations. He emphasized that the national strategy remains clear: institutional coordination, strategic planning, and complete prevention of any attempts to exploit the migration phenomenon.
Local Government Financial Support
The meeting also addressed the issue of financial support for local authorities to cover the increased costs of food, accommodation, and the management of emergency needs arising from the growing migrant numbers. Both the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and Minister Kefalogiannis underlined that the increased pressure on Crete’s shores is part of a broader pattern of international migration networks exploiting the issue, as seen in other European countries like Italy, Spain, and the Baltic States, as well as at Greece’s northern borders in Evros.
The government’s stance remains firm: it will continue to combat human trafficking and the manipulation of migrant flows, while ensuring the protection of local communities and maintaining compliance with international agreements. Local authorities and stakeholders stressed the importance of coordination and responsible action to address this growing crisis.
