Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, emphasized in a recent interview with Ertnews that migration cannot be treated as a cure-all for the country’s demographic problems. Speaking on Monday evening, Plevris highlighted the limits of using migration as a tool to address low birth rates and population decline.
“Countries that have invested in the idea that migration is a panacea for all problems are now the first to harden their policies,” Plevris said, adding that Greece had long recognized this reality. He explained that global shifts, including changes in Germany’s migration policy and the recent U.S. elections, have led to a broader worldwide rethinking of migration approaches.
When asked whether migration could help alleviate Greece’s demographic challenges, Plevris stated, “I believe that demographics cannot be solved by migration. The demographic issue is not merely a numerical problem. Greeks are not being born; we cannot rely on bringing in others to become Greeks.”
He further clarified that while immigrants may integrate over time and eventually gain citizenship, this natural path—from residence permit to full naturalization—cannot replace policies aimed at boosting the native population. The Minister stressed that demographic renewal is fundamentally a long-term societal issue, not one that can be resolved simply by increasing immigration numbers.
Plevris also highlighted social integration challenges, pointing to cultural factors that may hinder full assimilation. “The ‘elephant in the room’ is Islam; there are communities that struggle to integrate,” he noted, underscoring that successful immigration policy requires careful consideration of integration, not just numbers.
This perspective reinforces Greece’s historically strict migration policy, which Plevris notes has always prioritized controlled, managed immigration rather than large-scale population replacement. According to the Minister, lessons from other nations demonstrate that overreliance on migration as a demographic solution can backfire, ultimately prompting stricter immigration controls.
