Greece Plans Stricter Penalties, Faster Returns for Rejected Asylum Seekers

Greece is set to introduce stricter migration laws targeting irregular migrants and rejected asylum seekers, as announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Migration Minister Makis Voridis. The new draft legislation will eliminate the provision allowing irregular migrants to apply for residency after seven years, impose up to five years imprisonment for illegal entry and residence, and extend administrative detention prior to deportation from 18 months to two years. The law also aims to accelerate deportations through a more effective and fair mechanism, addressing the backlog of thousands of failed asylum seekers stranded in Greece. Despite a 30% decline in migrant flows along the Turkish land border, new sea arrival routes from Libya to Greek islands have emerged, increasing pressure on local authorities. The European Commission has proposed reforms to EU law to permit deportations of rejected asylum seekers to third countries deemed safe, complementing Greece's efforts to manage migration more efficiently. These measures reflect Greece's balancing of border security imperatives with commitments to international obligations amid ongoing migration challenges.