“The past year and a half has seen Europe move in a different direction on migration, recognizing the role of first-entry countries and that migration is a problem that cannot simply be managed but must be addressed.”

Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris made the remarks at a press conference in Veria following his visit to the Asylum Seeker Reception Facilities in Alexandria and Varvara, Veria.

According to the minister, Greece is following a specific migration policy under which anyone who enters the country and does not appear to have a refugee profile has their asylum claim examined, but remains in closed facilities during the process.

“I understand that there will also be reactions at the closed facilities because they know they will not be free, and their only options are either detention or return,” he said.

Asked about the incidents that have occurred at the closed facility in Sintiki and protests by the Serres Police Officers’ Association and the Municipality of Sintiki, Plevris explained that the facility belongs to the Ministry of Migration and has been made available to the police to implement the system of administrative detention.

“There are two options. The 300 people whose asylum applications have been rejected, and whom you see causing these incidents, could be left free and simply give us an address where they are staying. Then, when it is time to carry out their deportation, we could go to that address and find them in order to deport them. But I don’t think anyone believes we would actually find any of them.

“The second option—and I understand the reactions—is to honestly tell them that they are in a closed facility. In Sintiki, since there are problems, transfers will be made to other Pre-Removal Detention Centers for Foreign Nationals (PRO.KE.K.A.) so that the deportation process can be carried out.”

According to the minister, one of the reasons for the incidents was that the Bangladeshi Embassy visited the facility, identified all of its nationals, and they knew that flights were being scheduled to return them.

“We will not back down from this policy. We understand that there are other problems, and I also respect the police officers who are calling for additional security measures. All of these issues are under discussion, but not whether someone whose asylum application has been rejected will be allowed to move around freely, because they have to return. And because returns do not happen overnight, they need to understand that they will not be free until they are sent back.”

Plevris also referred to discussions concerning countries to which people whose asylum applications have been rejected cannot currently be returned because Greece does not have consular authorities there.

“The next step, which we are already discussing at an advanced stage, is establishing detention centers in African countries. That way, someone who comes here, has their asylum application rejected, and cannot be returned to their country because that country is not cooperating, will have the option of being transferred to an African country. So, I am certain that they would prefer to return to their own country, since if they have not been granted asylum, it means they are not fleeing a war.”

“The Welfare Benefits Approach Is Over”

The Minister of Migration and Asylum made clear that “the welfare benefits approach is over” and that anyone who comes to Greece and qualifies for refugee protection will be directed to facilities based on their employment skills and the needs of the local community.

“When a person arrives and is entitled to asylum, we look at their skills and choose a facility where those skills match the needs of the local community. There, pre-integration programs are also offered, meaning that while they are waiting to receive asylum, they can learn basic Greek and, at the same time, develop the skills they have declared.”

Plevris also referred to a compensatory program involving major infrastructure projects that will be implemented in the region, as the Ministry of Migration recognizes that the operation of the facilities causes some degree of disruption to local communities.

“We are now entering the election period that the prime minister has set for spring 2027, so we are not focusing solely on our own responsibilities. We are visiting the regions and have work to show for it. Obviously, there are also things that could move faster, but we are the first to call for convergence among our political opponents—not in an atmosphere of toxicity and sterile confrontation, but in areas where we can find common ground.”

According to Plevris, legal migration is something all countries need, and no one opposes lawful immigration.

“The problem arises when criminal networks come in and direct migration flows. We have one basic and clear rule: anyone who enters the country illegally cannot remain illegally if they are not entitled to protection,” he concluded.