ATHENS, March 20 – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Thursday that Greece will push the European Union to expedite the return of illegal migrants denied asylum to their countries of origin.
Speaking upon his arrival at an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, Mitsotakis emphasized the need for an updated list of “safe countries” to streamline the process.
“We’re eagerly awaiting the new list of safe countries of origin, which will allow our country to act more swiftly on returns,” Mitsotakis told reporters. The summit, held on March 20, 2025, includes migration as a key topic alongside discussions on Ukraine and defense.
Greece, a major entry point during the 2015-2016 migration crisis when over a million people arrived by sea en route to northern Europe, continues to grapple with the issue. While inflows have since decreased, illegal migration remains a pressing political concern across the EU.