Greek officials estimate more than half a million migrants are currently waiting in Libya for opportunities to cross into Europe, raising fears of another Mediterranean migration surge.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Greek government is warning that hundreds of thousands of migrants currently gathered in Libya could attempt to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, prompting Athens to intensify border enforcement measures and expand cooperation with Libyan authorities and European border agencies.
Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said this week that Greek authorities estimate approximately 550,000 migrants are presently waiting in Libya for opportunities to travel toward Europe.
According to comments reported by Greek outlet Voria, Plevris said Athens is coordinating closely with Libyan officials and Frontex to prevent migrant boats from departing North African coastlines bound for Greece and other European nations.
“Those who are not entitled to asylum will be detained,” Plevris said. “Now, when it is likely that someone will not get asylum, they are not placed in a freedom status but in a detention status, so that with the rejection of asylum, they can be returned.”
The migration minister defended the increasingly restrictive immigration policies implemented by the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, arguing that Greece has no obligation to broadly open its borders.
“There is no reason for Greece to open its borders and accept people,” Plevris said, adding that Greece would “operate within the legal framework, but will also reach its limits in order to protect the borders.”
Among the measures introduced by Athens is a 41-kilometer barrier constructed along Greece’s border with Turkey, aimed at reducing illegal crossings after previous migration surges tied to tensions with the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Greek government has also enacted stricter immigration penalties in recent years. Under legislation previously reported by The Guardian, entering Greece illegally became a criminal offense punishable by a minimum two-year prison sentence and fines reaching €10,000.
Individuals remaining in Greece after visa expirations or rejected asylum claims may face prison terms ranging from two to five years. Migrants whose asylum requests are denied are now permitted to remain legally in the country for only 14 days before becoming subject to fines, detention, electronic monitoring or deportation.
Following passage of the law last year, Plevris issued a direct warning to migrants seeking entry into Greece.
“We are accountable to Greek citizens, and Greek citizens want to be protected,” Plevris said. “The message is clear [for migrants]: if your asylum request is rejected, you have two choices. Either you go to jail or return to your homeland. The Greek state does not accept you… You are not welcome.”
The concerns over Libya come as Greece records a noticeable increase in migrant arrivals along its southern islands. According to Greek outlet Ekathimerini, 268 migrants arrived on the island of Crete within a single 24-hour period this week after crossing from North Africa by boat.
Earlier in the week, another 126 migrants reportedly reached Crete after departing Libya in small vessels.
While Greece estimates roughly 550,000 migrants may be waiting inside Libya to attempt crossings into Europe, broader international migration figures suggest the total migrant population inside Libya may be substantially higher.
The International Organization for Migration reported that approximately 939,638 migrants were living in Libya by the end of 2025, marking the highest total recorded by the agency.
The organization noted, however, that not all migrants inside Libya necessarily intend to migrate into Europe. Some may remain in Libya for employment opportunities, return to their countries of origin or relocate elsewhere within Africa or the Middle East.
According to migration monitoring data, many of the migrants currently residing in Libya originate from African nations including Chad, Egypt, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan, with large populations concentrated in urban centers such as Benghazi and Tripoli.
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