Hamad further emphasized that Libya’s maritime rights are non-negotiable and must be discussed within international legal frameworks. He noted that his government has already taken decisive steps in response to Greece’s recent positions on the issue.
The escalating migration flows from Eastern Libya to Crete were a central theme of the Prime Minister’s interview. He highlighted the importance of discussing Libya at both the informal meeting of like-minded countries on migration and the European Council itself.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, arriving at the EU Summit in Brussels on Thursday, made the following statement:
The first fishing boat, carrying 352 people, was spotted overnight about 30 nautical miles (35 miles, 55 kilometers) south of the tiny island of Gavdos, the coast guard said. Passengers were rescued by a ship from the European border patrol agency FRONTEX, aided by a coast guard patrol boat and four other vessels.
Migrant arrivals in Crete rose 179% compared to the same period last year, she noted. Between January 1 and June 5, 5,083 migrants landed in Crete – more than all of 2024.
Greece is planning to sent Navy ships outside Libya’s territorial waters “as a precaution” to monitor migrant flows, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said
"To date, data show a 17% reduction in migration flows compared to 2024. But I must say that there is a 134% increase in arrivals from the Libyan Sea to the islands of Gavdos, Crete, Kassos, Rhodes, etc., due to the destabilisation in Sudan
