Greece suspends processing of asylum applications for North Africans
(MENAFN) Greece has temporarily suspended the processing of asylum applications for individuals arriving from North Africa, citing a sharp increase in illegal sea crossings, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday.
The suspension, set to last for three months, is part of a broader effort by Greek authorities to stem the flow of migrants entering the country by boat. The prime minister warned that those arriving illegally will be detained and face arrest.
“The Greek Government sends a message of determination that the passage from North Africa to Greece is closing… [and] to all traffickers and all their potential customers that the money they spend may be completely wasted, because it will be difficult to reach Greece by sea,” Mitsotakis stated on X.
The announcement follows a diplomatic incident in Libya, where officials from the eastern-based government in Benghazi blocked an EU delegation from entering, including Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, who had traveled to discuss curbing illegal migration.
Since the collapse of the Libyan state in 2011 after a NATO-backed uprising, the North African country has become a major route for human traffickers moving people across the Mediterranean to Europe.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
