Latest news with #KyriakosMitsotakis
DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Is Greece in the middle of a new refugee crisis? – DW – 07/16/2025
Greece wants to use tough measures to deter refugees from entering the country by sea from Libya. Large numbers are arriving on the island of Crete, but not on the same scale as in 2015. The rhetoric being used is martial: Thanos Plevris, Greece's recently appointed migration minister, has called the influx of refugees across the Mediterranean an "invasion." Several lawmakers from the ruling New Democracy party have used the terms "hybrid war" and "emergency." A large proportion of Greek media have said that the island of Crete is being "flooded" by irregular immigrants. And Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has promised that Greece will not permit a new channel for illegal entry into Greece and Europe to be opened up. "Just like in the region of Evros in 2020, we will do everything necessary to stop them," he wrote in his weekly Facebook post on Sunday. But more than anything, politicians and media alike are referencing the year 2015, when millions of refugees — mostly from Syria — came to Europe. But is Greece (and, with it, Europe) really on the cusp of a new refugee crisis like the one ten years ago? All the data indicates that it is not. According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, 7,336 refugees arrived on Crete and the small, nearby island of Gavdos in the first half of 2025. Almost 2,000 more have arrived in July. UNHCR gives slightly higher figures for the period to July 6. Although that's almost 350% more than in the year 2024, the figures do not warrant the use of the term "invasion." In theory, an island the size of Crete would be able to cope with 9,000 or 10,000 refugees. It is worth comparing these figures with those from the year 2015, when a hundred times more refugees — over one million — arrived on many smaller Greek islands such as Lesbos and Kos. However, the societal and political atmosphere both in Greece and in Europe is different now to what it was ten years ago. The people of Crete, which welcomed almost 4 million tourists in 2024, are vehemently resisting the construction of a camp for the new refugees. There were even demonstrations there at the weekend. As a result, the new arrivals are being moved to Malakasa near Athens or to northern Greece. Although the government has announced that there will be a camp on Crete, it is doubtful whether it will be willing to bear the political cost of one. At the same time, the Greek migration minister speaks only of "illegal migrants," who he says belong behind bars, and threatens refugees with reduced food rations. Plevris claims that the people in enclosed camps are eating far too well and has repeatedly declared that his Migration Ministry is "not a hotel" for immigrants. The fact is that in Greece, it is only asylum seekers who receive food. Those who are recognized as refugees and those whose asylum applications have been rejected but remain in the country because they have nowhere else to go, are not entitled to food supplies. Since October 1, 2021, asylum seekers, who are housed in camps across Greece, are fed by private catering companies at a cost of €6.88 ($7.99) per person per day. So, Plevris's claim that they are being served sumptuous hotel-style meals is at the very least an exaggeration. The minister, who used to be a member of the extreme right-wing Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS), is keen to portray himself as a committed opponent of "illegal immigration." In his eyes, almost all new arrivals are illegal. He accuses them of wanting to lead a beautiful life in Greece at the expense of the Greek taxpayer. The fact of the matter is, however, that 75% of the cost of feeding asylum seekers is borne by the EU. Another fact is that most refugees and migrants do not want to stay in Greece, but want to move on, mostly to western and northern Europe. In addition, new arrivals currently don't have access to an asylum procedure, which means that they are not entitled to receive food. After a new law was passed last week (with the votes of the ruling New Democracy party and lawmakers from smaller, right-wing parties), Greece is suspending asylum applications from refugees who arrive in the country by sea from northern Africa for at least three months. The law is controversial and, in the opinion of many legal experts, both unconstitutional and in glaring contradiction with European values. Nevertheless, not even the European Commission has put up any opposition. Now Plevris legally has a free hand for his plans to send new arrivals back without an asylum procedure. "There are countries to which we can send them back, countries with which we have agreements, and others to which they can voluntarily return," he claimed on the television channel SKAI at the weekend. But is that really the case? One in three people currently in custody pending deportation comes from Egypt and cannot, according to the Greek ombudsman, be sent back there under the present circumstances. For this reason, the Greek government would like to make a deal with Cairo. However, such an agreement does not yet exist. According to the Migration Ministry, most of the asylum seekers who arrived in the first five months of 2025 came from Afghanistan (31%), Egypt (16.4%), Syria (6.2%), Pakistan (5.2%), Sudan (4.5%) and Bangladesh (3.6%). It is, however, doubtful whether those who are not granted asylum or are not allowed to apply for asylum, will be sent back to all these countries. Despite all this, the migration minister continues to work on his policy of deterrence and is preparing a new bill which would introduce a penalty of three years in prison without probation and a €10,000 fine for anyone refusing to leave the country. But it is questionable whether that would work and whether it would deter people who have fled Sudan, crossed the Libyan desert and found the money for the sea crossing to Greece from Tobruk on the Libyan coast. It seems unlikely. Nor is it clear what would happen to those people after three years. Would they be given another three-year prison sentence? But to right-wing voters in Greece, Plevris's plans sound promising, and that is important for the government. The government already knows that the threat of prison or two frigates, which Mitsotakis recently sent to patrol the Libyan coast, will not solve the problem. Right now, broken and divided Libya is the place where people who want to flee Africa's wars, famines and lack of prospects gather, waiting for an opportunity to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. No less than 14 million people have fled the war in Sudan and gone to Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya. The only realistic solution to the problem would be for Greece and Europe to reach an agreement with the two rival governments in Libya — the one in Tripoli, which is internationally recognized, and the one in Benghazi — along the lines of the EU-Turkey deal on migration from 2016.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
NGOs React To Greece Suspending Asylum For Some Irregular Migrants
Rescuers and health workers stand by a boat carrying some 400 people on Crete. (Photo by Costas ... More METAXAKIS / AFP) (Photo by COSTAS METAXAKIS/AFP via Getty Images) The Greek parliament has approved a measure to suspend the registration of people arriving to Greece by boat in order to claim asylum. The move - which comes just weeks after the swearing-in of a new right-wing migration minister and an increase of arrivals on the Greek island of Crete - has been condemned by NGOs and civil society organizations. The NGOs say the move is contrary to the human rights of people seeking shelter and also that it is counter-productive. The 90-day suspension of asylum registrations essentially means that nobody arriving by boat in the next three months will be able to claim asylum, no matter their origin or situation, and the government has said they will be deported to their country of origin as soon as possible. It was first announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and later approved by parliament as an amendment to an unrelated law (something migration policy expert Manos Moschopoulos notes is a common strategy in Greece). It comes amid a noted increase in arrivals on the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos. The perceived crisis is exacerbated by a lack of reception and processing facilities on those islands - because of a historically small amount of arrivals and local resistance to building such facilities. Images of people being temporarily housed in a local stadium and exhibition center have spread widely, and the Greek government have argued the situation is an emergency which justifies the radical measure. Critics have pointed out, however, that denying people access to asylum - regardless of the way they arrive - is a violation of various EU and international refugee and humanitarian legal frameworks. They have also pointed out the impracticability - impossibility even - of returning people without first registering them (and thereby learning where they are from), and absent the cooperation of many countries of origin. 'Denying the right to seek asylum based on how someone arrives is discriminatory and violates the core principles of refugee protection,'' said Adriana Tidona with Amnesty International. 'International law strictly prohibits returning people without first assessing their circumstances. The Greek government should immediately reverse this decision.' The Greek legal aid charity the Human Rights Legal Project called the move 'a gross violation of fundamental human rights.' The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, said the amendment 'would legalize returning people to face a risk of torture and other serious violations, in breach of obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, the 1951 Refugee Convention (…) and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.' While completely suspending access to asylum and the registration of people arriving on boats seems like a radical policy step for an EU member state, it is in keeping with a general policy trend seen around Europe. Lithuania and Poland have similarly suspended the right to asylum for 'irregular' arrivals, though with various exceptions for certain groups of people. At the same time, Germany has put in measures to forcibly prevent people reaching its territory, and Italy has pursued a controversial scheme to intercept people seeking shelter and take them to Albania, outside of EU jurisdiction. The European Commission itself is laying the groundwork for more such schemes, which would see people denied the ability to claim asylum on European territory. This overall policy trend - blocking people from seeking asylum on Europe's territory - was in previous years something typically only advocated by those on the fringe of European politics. It is, however, rapidly becoming mainstream. This latest move from Greece is certainly a step further, but in no way marks Greece as an outlier.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Greek government seeks parliamentary probe into EU farm fraud, opposition decries cover-up
ATHENS (Reuters) -Greece's ruling conservatives will ask parliament to investigate a scandal in which Greek farmers for years faked land ownership to receive EU agricultural subsidies, the government said on Monday. The EU in June imposed a 392 million-euro fine on Greece over the misuse of the funds between 2016 and 2023 by government agency OPEKEPE, which handles the subsidies and payments. Some OPEKEPE officials have denied wrongdoing. But the EU prosecutor for Greece also alleges that politicians have been involved in the fraud, documents seen by Reuters show, threatening to weaken Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' centre-right government. Only the Greek parliament can investigate politicians. Four ministers and one senior official have resigned so far. They all deny wrongdoing. "We call on parties to rise to the occasion over a decades-long wound and vote in favour of our proposal," government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said. Marinakis said the investigation would go back to 1998, the year OPEKEPE was founded. The government says illegally received subsidies must be returned. The exact size of the suspected fraud is unclear, but could be huge: OPEKEPE distributes 2.5 billion euros ($2.92 billion) in agricultural subsidies annually to hundreds of thousands of farmers. Opposition parties accused the government of a cover-up attempt, by trying to implicate parties other than Mitsotakis' New Democracy, which came to power in 2019 but has seen a drop in popularity since it was re-elected with a majority in parliament in 2023. For many Greeks, the scandal shows the persistence of the kind of corruption that helped plunge Greece into a decade-long financial crisis in 2009. EU prosecutors have already charged dozens of Greek stockbreeders who received EU funds after making false declarations of ownership or leasing of pastureland in recent years. ($1 = 0.8554 euros)
Libya Review
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
EU Plans New Diplomatic Mission to Libya After Benghazi Expulsion
The European Union (EU) agreed to send a new diplomatic mission to Libya after eastern Libyan forces expelled a high-ranking EU delegation from Benghazi last week. The announcement was made in Rome on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela jointly confirmed that the EU would reactivate the 'Team Europe' initiative. The new delegation will include senior EU officials as well as ministers from Greece, Italy, and Malta. Team Europe brings together EU member states, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, aiming to coordinate joint strategies in complex and politically sensitive environments. The decision follows a diplomatic incident that unfolded last week when the original EU delegation was told to leave immediately after landing at Benghazi airport. According to Euronews, sources close to the delegation believe the incident was part of a calculated move by General Khalifa Haftar to force implicit European recognition of the eastern-based government appointed by the House of Representatives. The expelled group included European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner, Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, Malta's Interior Minister Byron Camilleri, Greek Migration Minister Athanasios Plevris, and EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando. The delegation had earlier held talks in Tripoli with the Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba's government. The failed visit has added tension to EU-Libya relations at a time when irregular migration is rising sharply. Greece, facing overcrowded reception centers on Crete, temporarily suspended asylum requests last week for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. Over 500 people were moved to mainland Greece last Thursday after being intercepted south of Crete. Greek authorities report daily arrivals of up to 500 migrants, mainly from Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, and Morocco. Tags: East LibyaeuGreeceItalylibyaPrime Minister
India Gazette
11-07-2025
- General
- India Gazette
Mumbai: Indian, Greek Navies conduct Passing Exercise, enhance combat capability
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 11 (ANI): The navies of India and Greece held a joint passing exercise (PASSEX) off the coast of Mumbai, which enhanced maritime interoperability between the two countries, the Indian Navy Spokesperson said in a post on Friday. The Indian Navy spokesperson and the Western Naval Command shared the details of the Exercise. INS Tarkash had participated in the PASSEX on Thursday, along with the Hellenic Navy Ship HS Psara. The exercise saw tactical manoeuvres, replenishment-at-sea approaches, surface firing and cross-deck landings, and culminated in a steam past. During the exercise, the navies had the opportunity to exchange best practices and enhance maritime interoperability. 'Passage Exercise #PASSEX #IndianNavy's stealth frigate #INSTarkash with the Hellenic Navy Ship #HSPsara . Enhancing maritime interoperability India-Greece #BridgesofFriendship', the Indian Navy spokesperson wrote on X. In a post on X, the Western Naval Command said, '#INSTarkash @indiannavy participated in a #PASSEX with #HSPsara @NavyGR on 10 Jul 25. The exercise included validating communication procedures, tactical manoeuvres, replenishment-at-sea approaches, surface firing and cross deck landings, culminating in a steampast. The engagement provided an opportunity to exchange Best Practices and enhance bilateral maritime interoperability. Both units proceeded with scheduled deployments on completion of the exercise.' A statement on the Exercise was also issued by the Hellenic Navy, which is the naval force of Greece. 'On Thursday, July 10, 2025, a joint PASSEX (Passing Exercise) training of the Frigate (F/G) PSARA was conducted with the Frigate (F/G) TARKASH (F-50) of the Indian Navy in the sea area west of Mumbai. During the joint training, fire, communications and advanced manoeuvre exercises were carried out. This joint training contributed to promoting the level of operational readiness and combat capability', the statement observed. The Ministry of External Affairs in a previous statement had underlined that India's traditionally long-standing, warm and friendly relationship with Greece has been marked by consistent support for each other on issues of core national interest, such as Kashmir and Cyprus. During the visit of the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to India in 2024, the leaders reaffirmed their shared objectives to advance defence cooperation, including defence industrial collaboration and innovation. (ANI)
