By Gifts Antoniou

With two frigates, accompanied by a general support ship, the Navy is activated following a government decision, with the aim of preventing Crete’s conversion to the new, main gateway to immigrant entry into our country and in Europe. The alarm was sounded by the successive arrivals of boats on the south coast of Crete, but also in Gavdos in recent days. The circuits of the traffickers are based on Tobrouk, east of Libya, near the border with Egypt, which has been transformed into one of their central points of action with boats departing on a daily basis to different destinations. It is estimated that the only last ten days arrived in Crete about 2,500 illegal immigrants through this road. More than 7,000 have arrived on the island since the beginning of the year, and a total of about 5,000 illegal immigrants had arrived there.

Indicative of the concern that is central to EU level. For the situation in Libya in terms of illegal flows to Europe, is the letter addressed by the head of the Commission, Ursula Von der Liene To EU governments In view of Thursday’s European Council. The letter notes that in 2025 there is a decrease in flows by 21% compared to 2024. However, in the central Mediterranean the image is different with flows recording an increase of 7% and departures from Libya accounting for 93% of entrances.

Geopolitical developments in the wider region and the crisis in the Middle East exacerbate concern, as the possibility of reinforcing refugee -migratory flows, as well as the likelihood of traffickers’ circuits consider that the general turmoil is shaping them. This is the facts that triggered an alarm in Athens and brought the migration and the increase in flows on the Agenda of KYSEA on Sunday afternoon. The prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakisannounced the development of the Navy forces in the maritime area south of Crete, with the aim of preventing traffickers’ action, at the meeting with the President of the Republic, Constantine Tasoula.

Sources from the Ministry of National Defense explain that frigates will enable more efficient scanning of the field and “scanning” the maritime area to Libya’s territorial waters. The responsibility of dealing with illegal flows and preventing the action of the circuits remains in the port. However, the presence of warships is estimated to have greater deterrent power, while with the scope of the field they will be identified in time the ships of the traffickers. The same sources add that the strengthening of the surveillance of the maritime area is essentially a subscription to the efforts made by the Libya authorities to tackle the action of the circuits.

Athens, in addition to strengthening forces with the aim of deterring, also seeks to strengthen the cooperation with Libya, which is considered a very crucial link in the chain of the action of illegal immigrants. It is no coincidence that Mrs. Von der Liene has asked the Commissioner responsible, Marcus Brunnerto visit Libya to discuss the management of migratory flows, as well as the promotion of voluntary returns.

Migration will be one of the central issues on the agenda of Foreign Minister’s visit, George Gerapetritis in Libya, which is expected in early July. The Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Makis Voridishe has pointed out in his statements how crucial it is to reach an agreement on Migration with Libya, while Athens has made its readiness to assist Libyan authorities with radar, drones and boats, which will enable them to be more effectively monitored and coastal.