Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the issue of increased migrant arrivals on the island of Crete in his weekly social media post, stating that the government will not allow Greece to become an unguarded gateway into Europe.
“Migration is not a temporary crisis. It is a reality that changes form, intensifies, or recedes, but never disappears. Ruthless smugglers change tactics and routes, shifting their operations wherever they find an opening, and this time, that opening is Libya,” said Mitsotakis.
He stated that Greece will take all necessary actions to prevent the establishment of a new migration route through the Mediterranean, drawing parallels with the 2020 crisis at the northern Evros border, when thousands of migrants attempted to cross into Greece from Turkey.
“Our message is clear: Greece will not allow a new illegal entry route into the country and into Europe to be established. Just as we did in Evros in 2020, we will now do whatever is necessary to stop them,” he said.
Mitsotakis added that his government is already taking emergency measures to stop the new migration route and also called on the Libyan authorities to cooperate with Greece.
“We are taking emergency measures to close the route from North Africa. In this context, we are calling on Libya for cooperation—after all, the neighboring country’s relationship with the European Union runs through Greece,” Mitsotakis said.
“Our stance is strict but entirely lawful and justified. I know that many citizens feel unsettled and anxious. I share that feeling. I don’t hide behind numbers or statements. The pressure is real, and our response is clear: Greece will not become an unguarded gateway,” he concluded.