Greece’s Parliament has approved new “legal migration” legislation, carried solely by the governing New Democracy, with every opposition party voting against the bill in principle.
The law establishes that migrants who entered the country irregularly are permanently excluded from legalisation.
Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said undocumented migrants would continue to be treated as illegal residents and would be subject to arrest, detention and return to their countries of origin.
He argued that the legislation creates a clear framework for labour migration, allowing foreign workers to enter Greece only through authorised channels and for defined projects, stressing that legal entry would be the sole route to employment.
While the opposition rejected the bill overall, a number of its individual provisions were nevertheless backed across party lines, depending on how rapporteurs and designated speakers voted during the parliamentary process.
Serious objections were raised by Greece’s Ombudsman, who warned that penalising people for unlawful entry conflicts with international refugee protection conventions.
The Ombudsman also criticised clauses imposing heavy penalties on members of non-governmental organisations accused of facilitating irregular entry, arguing that the measures blur the line between organised smuggling for profit and humanitarian assistance provided to people in distress.
The parliamentary debate unfolded against the backdrop of a deadly incident in the Aegean Sea. On Tuesday, a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol operating between Chios and Oinousses encountered an inflatable boat carrying approximately 40 migrants. Authorities said the vessel’s operator failed to comply with orders to stop and collided with the patrol craft, causing the inflatable to overturn.
Fourteen bodies were recovered, a woman later died after being taken to hospital, and 24 people — including 11 children — were rescued with injuries. Most survivors are from Afghanistan. A Morocco national was arrested on suspicion of smuggling, while a senior Coast Guard officer has been tasked with leading an internal investigation.
Source: Ekathimerini
