Greek Parliament ratifies new migration law – Coast Guard rescues around 550 migrants south of Crete within 48 hours

The rescue operations were concentrated in the sea areas south of Crete and around the small island of Gavdos. The largest operation took place on Tuesday south of Crete. 192 people, including 42 minors, were rescued from a fishing boat and brought ashore. In total, the Coast Guard counted nearly 550 people recovered or rescued from distress at sea within the 48-hour window, according to official circles.

Libya–Crete route under pressure

According to those rescued, they had departed from the Libyan coast and had paid around 3,000 US dollars each to traffickers for the crossing. The roughly 300-kilometre route from Libya to Crete is being used increasingly by smuggling gangs. Sources within the authorities say that numerous boats are currently on their way from Libya towards Crete.

Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris had stated only a few days ago that more than half a million people in Libya are currently waiting for an opportunity to travel on to Europe. According to information from the port authorities, thousands of people continue to be present on the Libyan coasts, aiming to reach Europe via the southern sea routes, in particular via Crete.

The Coast Guard said that 7,500 arrivals had been registered since the beginning of the year. In the previous year, the total ultimately came to around 20,000. The authorities see a clear trend towards longer, more dangerous crossings of the open Mediterranean, because the traditional eastern Mediterranean route is being monitored increasingly strictly.

Plans for reception centres in third countries

At the same time, Athens is pushing ahead with the implementation of the new law at speed. Athens is in talks with two African states, Plevris told the semi-official news agency ANA-MPA, without naming names. Closed reception centres are to be established in these third countries, where asylum procedures are to be processed outside EU territory.

Human rights organisations have so far been reticent about the plans. They point to reports of precarious conditions in Libyan detention camps and warn that returns to third countries could jeopardise minimum rule-of-law standards. The Greek government, by contrast, emphasises that only orderly procedures can effectively curb trafficking crime.

Reactions and open questions

The rescue of the 192 people from the fishing boat, including 42 minors, illustrates the scale of the current situation. According to the authorities, the boat's crew had become unable to manoeuvre and was drifting in international waters before being brought to safety by the Coast Guard. Care for those rescued is being provided by regional authorities together with aid organisations on Crete.

Observers in Athens see the parallel passing of the law and the ongoing operations as a signal to Brussels. Greece wants to show that it not only supports the EU Migration Pact, but is also operationally implementing it at its external borders. Whether the closed centres in the two African partner states will actually be in place by the time the law enters into force on 12 June, however, remains an open question.