Greece’s Migration Minister: ‘Illegal Residency Will Not Be Tolerated’

Greece’s Minister for Migration and Asylum, Makis Voridis, delivered a firm message on Tuesday regarding the country’s migration policy, emphasising that individuals without legal status in Greece must either leave voluntarily or face detention.

Speaking on Parapolitika radio (90.1 FM) during the “Ekini ki Ego” program with journalists Thanassis Fouskidis and Stella Gadona, Voridis declared that the return of individuals who are not entitled to remain in Greece is a “fundamental pillar” of national migration policy. “Greece is not a country of uncontrollable entry and stay,” he stated.

The minister underscored the state’s recent actions to tighten legal frameworks and expedite returns. “In one month, we organised nearly 170 returns — several of them voluntary,” he noted. “Beyond numbers, we moved quickly to close a legal loophole that had emerged following a Council of State ruling. Within just 15 days, we reinstated the classification of Turkiye as a safe third country.”

Voridis also stressed the importance of a regulated legal pathway for labour migration, warning against relying on irregular channels to meet labour market demands. “We cannot respond to economic needs through illegality. Legal entry must be institutionalized. Otherwise, human trafficking networks will exploit migrants for political ends,” he said.

Commenting on the recent issuance of a new Joint Ministerial Decision (KYA), which reaffirms Turkiye as a safe third country for asylum seekers, the minister explained that the previous KYA had been overturned due to inadequate justification. “After close coordination with Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, we issued a new, fully substantiated decision. This is essential. Without the safe country designation, we would be forced to examine every asylum application from Turkiye individually — a process that would overwhelm the system.”

Addressing the fate of individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected, Voridis was unequivocal: “If someone does not receive asylum or a residence permit and refuses to leave, then they must be subject to administrative — or even criminal — restrictions. Those who remain illegally must depart. If not, they will face detention.”

He concluded with a pointed message to irregular migrants: “Living in Greece without permission is neither guaranteed nor without consequence. When people understand that their freedom of movement is at risk, they begin to seriously consider voluntary return.”

This stance reflects Greece’s continued efforts to tighten its migration controls and man

Source: pagenews.gr