Greece cites strain on coastal economies as it moves to block maritime migration from Libya

By Faridat Salifu

Greece is set to suspend asylum processing for all maritime migrants arriving from North Africa, citing growing pressure on island economies and a breakdown in regional maritime coordination with Libya’s eastern authorities.

The move comes as human smuggling networks in Libya open a new long-distance route from Tobruk to southern Greek islands, stretching over 180 nautical miles across the Mediterranean.

So far in 2025, more than 7,000 people—mostly from Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Bangladesh—have arrived on Crete and neighboring islands using this route.

Officials in Crete warn that the surge is placing unsustainable pressure on local services, fisheries, and tourism, with small coastal communities forced to divert resources to manage unregulated arrivals.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a statement that “the Greek government sends a message… to all smugglers and all their potential clients that the money they spend is completely wasted.”

In late June, Greece deployed two naval destroyers to waters near Libya to monitor maritime movements and coordinate deterrence efforts with eastern Libyan authorities under Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

However, diplomatic talks collapsed this week when Haftar’s militia-led government expelled EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner and declared him persona non grata at Benghazi airport.

Representatives from Italy, Greece, and Malta who accompanied Brunner for planned migration talks were also ordered to leave, with Libyan authorities accusing them of breaching international diplomatic norms.

The failed talks have underscored the fragility of cross-border cooperation on maritime governance and migrant control in the Mediterranean, particularly in zones where militia groups exert de facto authority.

Reacting swiftly, Prime Minister Mitsotakis announced emergency legislation to suspend all asylum processing for arrivals from Libya for an initial period of three months.

The bill, due to be tabled in parliament tomorrow, is framed as a short-term measure to stabilize Greek coastal zones and curb the operational reach of North African smuggling networks.

Migration analysts warn that abrupt border closures without broader coordination may shift smuggling patterns to other vulnerable coastlines and further destabilize Mediterranean maritime security.

Critics also argue that unilateral actions could undermine Greece’s commitments under international refugee law and weaken efforts to build sustainable blue economy partnerships across the region.

For now, Greece says its focus is on protecting maritime borders and supporting the resilience of island economies at the frontline of migration and marine governance challenges.