Greece has joined 16 other European nations in calling for a revision of EU laws to facilitate the return of irregular migrants.
The move comes amid increasing migrant flows to Greece and growing concerns about the effectiveness of existing return policies.
Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos highlighted the surge in migrant arrivals from the southern route, particularly through Crete. He said that the number of third-country nationals attempting to enter Greece illegally has significantly increased compared to last year.
Mr. Panagiotopoulos revealed that many of the migrants arriving in Greece are from war-torn Syria, Egypt, and Pakistan. They often disembark on the southern coast of Crete before attempting to reach mainland Greece and subsequently seek asylum.
The minister emphasized the need for a more robust legal framework to ensure that migrants who do not have the right to remain in the EU are returned to their countries of origin. He also called for improved border management and cooperation between EU member states to address the issue of illegal migration.
The 17 countries supporting the call for stricter return policies include France, Germany, Italy, Malta, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Croatia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. Their appeal to the European Commission highlights the need for "accountability" from migrants who have no right to stay in the EU.
The development comes as several EU countries are shifting towards more conservative policies on immigration, fueled by concerns about illegal migration and its impact on societies.