US EditionGreece blocks asylum claims for migrants on island of Crete after a surge in arrivals from Libya
GREECE, JUL 11 – Greek lawmakers approved a three-month suspension of asylum claims from North African arrivals amid a surge of over 10,000 migrants this year, citing legal and security concerns.
- On Wednesday, the Greek government declared it would halt the processing of asylum requests for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa, in response to a recent influx of arrivals on the island of Crete.
- The suspension follows a sharp increase in migrant arrivals linked to instability in Libya and strained relations after the 2019 Greece-Turkey-Libya accord.
- This year, over 7,300 migrants have arrived on Greece’s southern islands, including more than 2,000 who reached Crete recently, leading authorities to plan the detention of new arrivals and the construction of a dedicated facility.
- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared, "The road to Greece is closing" and any illegal entrants will be arrested and detained as a "necessary temporary reaction" sending a clear message to traffickers.
- Greece has increased naval patrols near Libyan waters and seeks cooperation with Libyan coastguards to prevent migrant departures, while diplomatic challenges and local discontent persist.
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Prime Minister Mitsotakis: "We are not an open door to Europe. In June, the arrivals of people from Cyrenaica rose.
The Greek Parliament passed a law amendment this Friday, tabled by the Conservative Government, which prevents immigrants arriving irregularly in Greece from North Africa from submitting asylum applications, and provides for their arrest and return to their country of origin or origin.
Greek parliament passes suspension of asylum claims despite international criticism
Greece’s parliament has approved a three-month suspension of asylum claims for migrants arriving from Libya despite strong criticism from the United Nations refugee agency and Europe’s top human rights official
At the Athens Parliament, the House of Deputies approved with a large majority the measure to suspend the examination of asylum applications of those arriving by sea from North Africa, announced Wednesday by the center-right government after the boom of arrivals on the island of Crete for an increase of departures from Libya that is also affecting Italy.
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