Greece warns 550,000 migrants in Libya ready for Mediterranean crossings

Greek migration minister Thanos Plevris said an estimate of about 550,000 migrants and refugees are waiting in Libya to attempt crossing the Mediterranean to Europe. Greece is working with the EU border agency Frontex and Libyan authorities to disrupt smuggling networks, detect vessels early and prevent departures from the Libyan coast. Plevris stressed that people without a right to asylum will be detained and, where possible, returned, adding that Greece will not open its borders.

Arrivals from Turkey via the eastern Aegean have fallen sharply, while crossings from eastern Libya to Crete have surged, making Crete Greece’s busiest entry point with several hundred arrivals in a single day in early May 2026. Greek coast‑guard operations have intensified, including rescues and interceptions of overcrowded boats. Independent estimates put the total migrant population in Libya at 800,000‑900,000, many from sub‑Saharan Africa, Sudan and Egypt.

The Greek government has introduced tougher legislation, harsher penalties for rejected asylum seekers and faster return procedures. The warning comes amid ongoing EU‑Libya cooperation and persistent concerns over human‑rights conditions in Libyan detention centres. The UN refugee agency recorded 107 deaths in the eastern Mediterranean last year.