Greece is negotiating with Germany to establish migrant return centers in safe African countries, Immigration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris has revealed, describing the move as a critical deterrent to illegal migration.
Speaking to state broadcaster ERT, Mr. Plevris confirmed that discussions are underway with specific African nations to host migrants who cannot be repatriated to their homelands. He clarified that the initiative is being driven by a coalition of individual European Union member states rather than the bloc as a whole.
"The goal is to send a clear message that irregular migration routes are closed," Mr. Plevris said. The minister reported a significant decline in migratory flows, noting that arrivals dropped by nearly 50% between August and mid-November compared to the same period in 2024.
According to ministry data, Greece has recorded approximately 12,000 arrivals so far this year, down from roughly 23,000 last year.
After a brief spike in July, overall arrivals are now trending 18% lower than 2024 levels.
Mr. Plevris attributed the decline to improved cooperation with Turkey, which he said has helped reduce crossings by more than 50%. He also credited diplomatic outreach in Libya for curbing flows from North Africa.