Armed with a significant reduction in illegal migrant arrivals, Athens is responding to renewed German pressure for the return of refugees to Greece.

The issue will be high on the agenda during a meeting tomorrow in Berlin between Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, and Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, who has been pressing for tougher migration measures amid the rising popularity of the far-right AfD in Germany.

At the center of the discussion is the matter of so-called “secondary movements” — migrants from third countries who were granted asylum in Greece but later traveled to Germany, where they submitted new asylum applications.

Under the EU’s Dublin III Regulation, such applicants should be returned to the first country where they received asylum. However, actual returns have been limited, as German courts have repeatedly blocked transfers, citing poor living conditions in Greece. Nonetheless, Germany has requested the return of 13,525 individuals who were initially granted asylum in Greece but reapplied in Germany.

Athens, in turn, points to a steep decline in migrant arrivals, the result of stricter government measures, particularly in response to the recent influx of boats arriving in Crete from Libya.

According to data up to 31 October 2025, arrivals at Greece’s maritime borders in the August–October period reached 11,307 — down from 20,279 in the same period of 2024, a drop of 45%. Notably, this decline followed a sharp increase during June and July, suggesting that the government’s reinforced border control policy, implemented in mid-summer, succeeded in reversing a rising trend.

The monthly figures from August through October 2025 confirm this downward trajectory:

• August: 2,874 arrivals (vs. 5,928 in 2024)

• September: 4,152 (vs. 6,938)

• October: 4,281 (vs. 7,413)

Overall, during the first ten months of 2025, sea arrivals have fallen by 49% compared to 2024 — from 38,205 to 19,370. In the Aegean, the decline reaches 50%, which government sources attribute to the “full implementation of the new deterrence and strict detention doctrine.”

According to ministry officials, the decline is no coincidence but rather “reflects the growing perception among traffickers that Greece is no longer an easy gateway.” The government’s rationale is that a firm stance deters those who do not meet asylum criteria, while encouraging legitimate applicants to use official channels.

Tomorrow’s meeting in Berlin is seen as particularly significant for Athens. Minister Dobrindt is advocating a tougher European migration framework, calling for more pushbacks and tighter control of external borders. Plevris is expected to present the improved situation at Greece’s frontiers, supported by data showing a sharp reduction in arrivals — evidence, he will argue, that Greece’s policies are working.

The Greek position remains that the country cannot bear the burden of EU returns alone, especially when national measures have already led to a dramatic drop in irregular arrivals.

Sharp Decline in Asylum Applications in Germany

At the same time, asylum applications in Germany have also decreased markedly compared to last year — down 55%, according to official data from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, cited by the epd news agency. As Deutsche Welle reports, first-time asylum applications in Germany dropped to 8,823 in October 2025, compared with 19,785 in October 2024.

According to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, “the change in migration policy is paying off,” as the factors that previously attracted irregular migration to Germany have been significantly reduced.” Deportations are also accelerating: roughly 2,000 people are deported each month, with 17,651 deportations carried out in the first nine months of 2025 — up from 14,706 during the same period last year.