Greece's Migrant Policy: Striking a Balance on the Mediterranean

Greece is considering a further extension of its suspension on asylum applications, should migrant flows from Libya become significant once more, Migration Minister Thanos Plevris disclosed on Thursday.

The suspension, implemented by the centre-right government in July, led to a drop in irregular arrivals from North Africa. Initially, migrants arriving by sea totaled 2,642 in the first week of July; now, only 900 have arrived since the regulation took effect.

As a new crisis looms, legislation is also being developed that proposes jail terms for those entering the country illegally without asylum claims. Human rights groups allege forced returns by Greece, under scrutiny by the European Union border agency. Disputing these claims, Plevris stated European nations, including Greece, have reached a limit on accommodating illegal migrants.

(With inputs from agencies.)