Greek ministry to transfer Crete migrants to mainland; Samos protests

The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum confirmed that migrants and asylum seekers arriving on Crete are being moved to closed and open reception facilities on the mainland after completing identification procedures. Transfers to Aegean islands occur only for the limited purpose of identification due to extremely low occupancy, and no permanent accommodation is planned on the islands.

Local officials on Samos, including the regional governor and the mayor of East Samos, voiced strong opposition to any proposal to relocate migrants from Crete to the Zervou structure in Mytilene. They highlighted the island’s heavy burden since 2015, its impact on the economy and tourism, and reminded that prior agreements stipulated island facilities would serve only arrivals arriving directly via the sea border. The officials urged the minister to reject any such transfers and to honor the commitments made to the local community.