The Council of Ministers of Interior and Justice of the European Union, held in Luxembourg on 12 and 13 June 2025, was attended by Sevi Voloudaki.

During her intervention in the discussion part of the debate on the returns policy, the Deputy Minister stressed that the effective implementation of returns is a top priority for the Greek government. “Returns must be made truly practicable and reliable at the European level,” she said.

At the same time, she pointed out that no internal effort, however well-planned, can succeed without effective cooperation with the countries of origin or provenance. “We support any initiative that strengthens this cooperation,” he noted. “It is in our common interest to build more balanced and mutually beneficial relations with third countries.”

Referring to the situation in Libya, Ms Voloudaki expressed strong concern about the emergence of a new migratory route from Tobruk to Crete, with more than 4,000 arrivals in the first half of 2025, noting that “the limited capacity for cooperation and the absence of a stable channel of communication in the region make it difficult to manage developments in a timely and coordinated manner, making predictability almost impossible.”

The Deputy Minister, concluding her statement, noted: “The external dimension of migration requires unified responsibility and joint action. Greece is ready to make a constructive contribution to any initiative that will help stabilize the situation and prevent further pressure on frontline states such as ours.”

In the part of the discussion on the future legal status of the displaced persons from Ukraine, Ms Voloudaki advocated the extension of the temporary protection status until March 2027, as well as the need to formulate a common European strategy to prepare for their gradual return and reintegration. In the margins of the Council, the Deputy Minister had contacts with her counterparts from Member States, with whom she discussed issues of common interest in the field of migration and asylum.