Thanos Plevris: speaker at an event at the EP on the new European Pact on Migration

Minister of Immigration and Asylum Thanos Plevris participated as a keynote speaker at event held at the European Parliament on the new European Strategy for asylum and immigration, the implementation of the new Pact on Immigration and Asylum as of 12 June, as well as the ongoing negotiations on the Return Regulation.

The eventwas co-organised by MEPs Freddy Beleri and Michael Hadjipandela. The discussion was also attended by the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Bruner and the Deputy Minister of State for Migration and International Protection of Cyprus Nicolas Ioannidis.

During his speech, Mr. Plevris presented data on Greece’s immigration policy, noting that migration flows to the Greek islands decreased by about 70% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.

The minister also referred to the implementation of the administrative detention system for asylum seekers without a refugee profile, which will be implemented from September 2025. According to the data he presented, around 3,500 people are already in detention, while there is an increasing trend of voluntary returns.

At the same time, he stressed the need to strengthen the European framework for returns, as well as the importance of cooperation with third countries to tackle illegal migration. He made a special reference to the creation of return hubs in cooperation with member states of the European Union.The aim remains the implementation of an “effective and balanced migration policy”, with emphasis on border protection, the acceleration of return procedures and the development of a common European framework for the management of the migration issue.