ATHENS, Greece — A Greek official has voiced strong criticism against the outgoing European Commission for its inability to establish a unified policy for the deportation of migrants. She also emphasized that factors such as war and climate change are driving an increase in global displacement.

Sofia Voultepsi, the Deputy Minister for Migration, articulated her concerns regarding a significant migration agreement made by the European Union earlier this year, stating that it falls short in practical implementation. “While we have reached an agreement, the crucial aspect that is necessary is still absent: Returns,” Voultepsi remarked during a conference held close to Athens. She stressed the necessity of having a synchronized approach for asylum, deportation, and integration across the EU.

Voultepsi highlighted that ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, along with the repercussions of climate change, will subject Europe to sustained pressure over the long term. She mentioned that the new EU migration pact is planned to come into effect by mid-2026, following further discussions among the 27 member states of the bloc, which are anticipated to take about a year.

Expressing concern over the rising number of refugees in Lebanon due to continuous Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah, Voultepsi continued, “Nations such as Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Sudan are grappling with both warfare and climate changes, which lead to an increasing flow of migrants seeking refuge in Europe.”

Greece serves as a key entry point for numerous migrants entering the European Union, with the majority making perilous crossings from Turkey and Libya in overcrowded boats. On Tuesday, the coast guard reported that 81 migrants were rescued from a distressed vessel that was making its way from Turkey to Italy.

This rescue operation, which took place on Sunday, involved assistance from two merchant ships. Those rescued were brought to the southern Greek port of Kalamata late on Monday, where they shared that they had each paid $8,500 for their journey. Four passengers were arrested on suspicion of smuggling activities.

In another development, an Italian navy vessel is set to arrive at an Albanian port carrying an initial group of 16 migrants who were caught in international waters. Their asylum requests will be handled in Albania, according to a five-year agreement established between Italy and Albania.

In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has proposed a temporary halt to the right to asylum. This new migration policy was brought forward during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, and if it receives approval from Parliament—where Tusk’s coalition holds a majority—and from conservative President Andrzej Duda, it may soon be enacted.