FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE — Greece will introduce tougher migration laws, including stricter penalties for rejected asylum seekers and faster deportation procedures, Migration and Asylum Minister Makis Voridis has said.
Voridis said the draft bill, set for a parliamentary vote in June, would eliminate the rule allowing undocumented migrants to apply for legal residence after seven years.
The legislation aims to accelerate repatriations, cutting the current 18-month deportation timeline.
In 2023, Greece arrested nearly 74,000 undocumented migrants, but only about 2,500 were deported, Voridis said.
Under the bill, individuals entering Greece illegally would face a minimum two-year prison sentence, up from the current three-month term.
More serious cases would carry at least three years in prison, instead of the current six-month penalty, according to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).
The proposed reforms align with the European Union’s upcoming migration framework, set to take effect in 2026.
New entry criteria would mandate denial of entry for individuals deemed threats to public order, national security, or public health.
Since 2015, Greece has been a primary entry point into the EU for migrants and refugees, with over one million arrivals recorded.
While numbers have declined in recent years, thousands continue to attempt the journey each year.