Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged the EU to speed up the return of illegal migrants denied asylum during a Brussels summit on March 20, 2025. Highlighting the need for a new “safe countries” list, he aims to bolster Greece’s deportation efforts, a topic echoing the 2015-2016 crisis when over a million crossed its borders.
Tag: Greece migration
The European Union is intensifying its migration crackdown with a bold proposal to establish ‘return hubs’ outside its borders and accelerate deportations of rejected asylum seekers. For Greece, a key entry point along the Turkish border, the plan could ease pressure on overcrowded island camps, though critics warn of potential human rights violations. Unveiled Tuesday by the European Commission, the measures aim to boost returns—currently at just 20%—and restore trust in the EU’s migration system, amid declining irregular crossings and rising political tensions.
Four migrants perished off the coast of Rhodes after a smuggler allegedly forced them overboard during a crossing from Turkey. Greek authorities rescued 25 survivors and recovered the bodies of three men and one woman. This tragedy underscores the perilous journey faced by migrants seeking refuge in the EU.
A merchant ship has successfully rescued approximately 70 migrants from a yacht that was in distress off the southwestern coast of Greece, according to Greek authorities on Thursday.