When the Greek Prime Minister, Kiriyakos Mitsotakis visited Germany in mid -May, it was a welcome break from the difficult times at home.
The party of the Conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), Chancellor Frederick Merz, honored him with the Ludwig Foundation Gold Medal, which gave the orthodox politicians an opportunity to highlight his successes in reducing the Greek economy and reducing unemployment by 9.5%.
However, the meeting with Mitsotakis’s Mirz had a negative aspect of this, especially in relation to refugees and migration. In theory, two orthodox governments are in the agreement: both are firm to prevent irregular immigration in Europe.
Both have appointed hard-liners known as ministers responsible for migration: Conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) politician Alexander Dobridate in Berlin, and a distant background politician in Athens, Makis Voridis. And both have decided that from now on there will be strict control of who cannot come to Europe.
Geographical difference
In practice, however, both countries have different interests. Greece read on the outer border of the European Union. It is a first reception country for refugees and migrants that is dreaming of better life in rich countries of northern and western Europe.
As a result, those who seek asylum are already registered or recognized in Greece, traveling to Germany, France or Scandinavia for years.
So far, very few of these migrants have sent bees back to Greece. However, the Merz government intends to facilitate their exile.
Now there is a legal basis for this, the federal administrative court in leapzig ruled in mid -April that migrants did not face any extreme difficulties in Greece. Presiding Judge, Robert Keller, said yardstick for assessment whether white migrants had access to “bread, beds and soaps”.
‘Not very friends’
Since this decision, Germany, in principle, can send back thousands of migrants back to Greece – especially young, healthy men can travel alone. The government does not want this in Athens.
Asked about the verdict of the German court, Greek Minister for migration for migration, Makis Voridis said that there is not currently an application from Germany on his desk. “But we will not be very favorable for any request,” Woridis warned.
For the Ministry of Greek for immigration and shelter, 56.066 irregular immigrants were registered last year – about 155 a day. The same year, a total of 219 people returned to Greece from Germany.
Last year only 473 recognized refugees returned to Greece from all countries of the United European Union, including Germany.
So far, in 2025, till 16 May, 114 returns have come, out of which 48 came from Germany. The thesis numbers do not constitute a commendable burden for Greece.
However, if Germany actually decides that it wants to send back the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 migrants who have traveled from Greece, it will create problems for Athens.
30% decline in arrival
The Greek borders are quiet since the beginning of this year. By April, 8.295 people had arrived – 30% decline in the same period last year.
Minister Voridis said on 22 May, “Thanks to effective border security and better cooperation with Turkey, immigration flow has decreased by about 30% in the first four months, although the flow from Libya has increased by 174%.”
Now expecting an agreement with Migration Minister Libya, similar to an Italy signed with the government in Tripoli in 2017.
With financial and technical assistance from Italy, Libya officials stopped thousands of people, who had already crossed the Mediterranean Sea, and took them to Libya.
Earlier, the migration route went from Western Libya to Italian Island Lampedusa. Now, Eastern Libya has a new route from Tobruk to the Greek island of Crete.
However, the Tripoli government does not control the former of the country. Althog has announced that he will soon visit Libya, Voridis does not currently have a dialogue partner, with a deal with whomi – and he definitely needs Maul Hap that he needs a topper to every multia in the North African country, which is to stop the toberock and crane.
Prosecution against 17 Coastguard
In June 2023, after moving away from Tobrook, fishing traler Adriana landed from the Greek shore near the city of Pilos. It was overloaded, in which several hundred people were placed on the board. Estimated 600 migrants drowned.
Reports of people survived by international researchers show that there were serious failures by the Greek Coast Guard.
Now, a Greek Navy court has brought allegations against 17 Coastguards, some of them senior officials. They include the captain of the Coastguard Ship LS 920, what was important in the loss of Adriana.
He is the reason for the sinking of the migrant boat, and faces allegations of “dangerous intervention of marine transport” and “failure to provide help”.
In addition, all the crew members of Adriana, two duty officers, and the then head of the Greek Coast Guard have been accused of highlighting the migrants on the ship with danger of life.
This is the first time the Greek judiciary has brought a criminal prosecution against the high level Coast Guard Representative.
This article has been translated from German.
