The illegal immigrant flows throughout July did not exceed 913 people and in August, a peak month, less than 400 entered, meaning 1,300 entered in 45 days. If we were to follow what PASOK claims, we would be talking about 6,000-7,000 arrivals a day, Thanos Plevris, speaking to ERTNews.

Before the suspension decision, 700 people a day were coming in. No one is saying that an amendment will annihilate the flows, but illegal residence becomes a criminal offence and those who thought they would be legalized, while they entered illegally and ignored Greek law, will suffer the penalties, the Minister of Migration and Asylum stressed.

Voluntary returns must be increased, he stressed, as the 7-year framework is abolished, providing for a sentence of 2-5 years and the only option is for the illegal immigrant to cooperate for his or her return, Plevris said.

If someone does not respect our ideas and values, he said, he has no place in our country, noting that this is an “extraordinary measure, which must be respected by everyone in Libya where no one is in danger anymore.”

Anyone who does not respect the decision to suspend the asylum examination for the next three months will suffer the consequences, he said.

The government, Plevris said, would not tolerate watching boats in an observer role.

“Regarding NGO assistance to those who have appealed, I have already requested the register,” he said. “I am surprised that there are NGOs in the register of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum that are turning against it and of course there will be a management check,” Thanos Plevris stressed, adding:

“We will also go with arguments to the European courts. We respected court decisions but immigration policy is not made by courts nor by NGOs. We do not plan the policy together with ministry employees either, who have to implement the policy and if it does not suit them let them not stay. Obviously I will listen to them on union issues, but we are indifferent to the position of NGOs on government decisions.”