The latest data on migration flows to Greece was reported by the Minister of Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris.
The discussion focused on the new Migration and Asylum Pact and the Return Regulation, with the minister presenting updated figures on arrivals and pressures on the country.
As noted, migration flows remain a critical issue for Greece, in the context of wider European developments, while particular emphasis is placed on effective management of returns and the strengthening of relevant mechanisms.
As Pleyris said, as of 20 April, the maritime flows in 2025 were 9,313 and in 2026 4,979. “There is a very large reduction, almost 50%, which is about 35% overall, if you include land,” Pleyris noted, and continued: “At our maritime border with Turkey, the flows in 2025 were 6,722 and in 2026 they are 2,595. We are talking about a very, very large reduction. And in Crete, we have a stabilization as the flows in 2025 were 2,595 and in 2026 2,539.”
Referring to the war aspect, he said that so far no worrying mobility has been observed in the sense that Turkey’s borders have also not received any pressure in terms of migratory flows while any movements have been to populations within their own countries. He noted, however, that “what we are not seeing now is very likely, if a situation of geopolitical uncertainty continues, to be seen down the road.”
As for the Libyan envelope, he said that there are around 3 million displaced Sudanese: 1.5 million in Egypt, 1 million in Chad and 500,000 in Libya, where young men from families living either in Chad or Egypt are going, and “this is a worrying reservoir to Europe“.
He also noted that the first quarter saw increased flows through Libya from Bangladesh from where they were travelling very easily, as tourists, either to Egypt or directly to Libya and, the circuits had adapted to such a context.
As he noted, with actions that were taken by both the Italian side and the Greek side and the European Commission now this travel regime is being disrupted or restricted so that we can limit such a flow as well. But the main flow that seems to be possible from Libya has to do with the war and the civil strife that is going on in Sudan.
Mr. Pleyris also said that, what seems to be of concern to us is the Libyan front and there we have prepared ourselves: “I make it clear from now on that we are not going to allow what happened in the country in 2015 [. . . .] We have made a decision that in the event that uncalculated migratory flows occur, there will be an escalation of measures.” I have to tell you in simple terms that, “the asylum suspension will be the mildest of all the measures we have planned, should there be an upsurge.”
