Greece will suspend all asylum hearings for migrants arriving by boat from North Africa for the next three months, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced. The decision follows a recent surge in arrivals from Libya, with over 2,000 migrants landing on the island of Crete—a key tourist destination and the Prime Minister’s home region.
The influx has triggered backlash from local officials and tourism stakeholders. Despite diplomatic efforts with both the eastern Libyan authorities in Benghazi and the UN-backed government in Tripoli, Greece was unable to curb the flow.
Addressing parliament, Mitsotakis declared that Greece’s borders are closing to illegal migration. He warned that those entering the country unlawfully would be arrested and detained. New legislation to enforce the measure is set to be voted on today, with Athens keeping the European Union updated on developments.
