Athens, Greece — In light of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Greece is advocating for more stringent migration policies within the European Union as it anticipates a possible increase in the number of migrants and refugees. This announcement was made by Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos on Wednesday.

The government is exploring the possibility of establishing detention centers on the islands of Rhodes and Crete, as the number of arrivals by sea has more than doubled since last fall. Panagiotopoulos indicated that, based on current estimates, Greece could see around 50,000 migrants entering the country by the end of the year. He noted that existing migrant facilities on the islands are at full capacity, while those on the mainland are operating at approximately 60% capacity.

The influx of migrants has largely been attributed to journeys from the Turkish coast, although there are also arrivals from North African routes. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have compounded the situation, according to the minister. While he acknowledged the flow of migrants from Lebanon, he indicated that a significant increase has not yet materialized in response to the conflicts there.

Panagiotopoulos, who previously served as the defense minister, stated that Greece is pushing for stricter migration measures under the upcoming term of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aiming for continuity within the current negotiation framework. A significant EU migration agreement reached earlier this year is projected to be implemented by mid-2026, following further negotiations. Greek officials are advocating for changes to enhance deportation practices and to bolster controls at external borders.

“We are in search of a European solution that is firmly rooted in the principles of the European Migration and Asylum Pact,” Panagiotopoulos stated, emphasizing the importance of progressing toward the implementation of the pact after years of negotiation. He reiterated, “The European Union spent eight years working on this, and it has finally been approved. Now we need to transition into the implementation phase.”