Illegal Immigration to Greece Surges by 35 per Cent Over Last Year

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Greece’s government says migrant arrivals have increased by up to 35% since fall 2023. {snip}

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Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said pressure on eastern Mediterranean migration routes was likely to continue through 2025.

“The extensive geopolitical unrest in our broader region – where three wars are raging, the most recent in Syria – combined with the climate crisis, is forcing many to abandon their homes simply to survive,” Panagiotopoulos said, speaking in parliament during a budget debate that ended late Sunday.

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The number of migrants traveling illegally to Greece is expected to top 60,000 this year, with Syrians making up the largest number, followed by Afghans, Egyptians, Eritreans and Palestinians, according to government data.

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