Greek Minister Reports 34% Drop in Sea‑Border Migrant Arrivals

Greek Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Vassilis Kikilias announced that migrant arrivals at Greece’s sea borders fell by 34% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. The total number of people arriving from Turkey and Libya was 15,389, down from 23,243 a year earlier.

The decline was driven mainly by a 59% reduction in flows from Turkey, while arrivals from Libya slipped by 4%. Kikilias credited the decrease to the government’s strategic planning and the operational work of the Coast Guard, which also conducts rescue missions at sea.