The Greek government announced tough new measures against migrants arriving from Libya on Tuesday, July 8th, following a major diplomatic incident in Benghazi, where local authorities denied entry for an EU delegation.
Migration flows from eastern Libya to Greece have surged in recent weeks. This week alone, 1,500 people landed on Crete after departing from Libya’s coast.
In response, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a temporary halt to asylum requests for individuals arriving from North Africa. “Greece will suspend asylum requests from individuals arriving from North Africa for three months,” he said.
The government aims to deter migrants from attempting the journey. “Those who manage to reach Greek territory will be confined in closed centers under administrative detention,” Mitsotakis noted.
The announcement comes just days after a high-profile EU delegation’s visit to Libya ended in controversy. Led by EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, the delegation first held talks in Tripoli with the internationally recognized government. Then, after reaching the Benghazi airport in Eastern Libya, the members of the delegation were treated as personae non gratae and forced to fly back to Europe.
