Greece has proposed a sweeping draft law to implement the EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum, including the creation of ‘return hubs’ outside EU borders and expanded detention measures to accelerate asylum processing and returns.
Greece has put forward draft legislation that would fold the European Union’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum into national law, marking a broad tightening of rules on asylum, border screening and returns. According to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the package is intended to create a faster and more कठोर system for handling irregular arrivals and for removing people who are not entitled to stay. AMNA reported that the bill is now in public consultation, while the Council of the EU has said the pact is due to become fully operational on 12 June 2026.
A central feature of the plan is the idea of ‘return hubs’, facilities in third countries outside the EU that would take rejected asylum seekers when their countries of origin refuse or delay repatriation. Thanos Plevris, Greece’s migration minister, told AMNA that Greece has joined Germany, Denmark, Austria and the Netherlands in pushing the concept forward, with talks already under way with third countries in Africa and Asia. The minister said the aim is to secure the first agreements during 2026 and open the first centres from 2027.
The draft law also expands detention and return measures. Plevris said Greece had already seen a rise in voluntary returns after earlier changes, and he cited a growing use of administrative detention for people who do not meet the criteria for protection. At a European Parliament event, he said migration flows to the Greek islands had fallen by about 70 per cent in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, while around 3,500 people were already being detained under the new approach.
Alongside tougher returns, the bill introduces mandatory pre-entry screening at the EU’s external borders, including identity checks, fingerprinting, security vetting and health examinations, backed by the upgraded Eurodac database. It also shortens asylum timelines, speeds up border procedures and seeks quicker rulings on claims deemed manifestly unfounded. The government says the changes are meant to cut backlogs and align Greece with the bloc-wide framework that takes effect as the new pact comes into force.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://greekcitytimes.com/2026/06/10/greece-unveils-sweeping-new-migration-changes/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.amna.gr/en/article/992257/New-legislation-implementing-EU-Pact-on-Migration-and-Asylum-posted-for-public-consultation – Greece has introduced a new draft bill implementing the European Union’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, aiming to overhaul the national framework for managing illegal migration, asylum, and returns. The legislation seeks to strengthen the protection of the EU’s external borders, accelerate asylum procedures, and establish more effective return mechanisms for individuals not eligible for international protection or legal residence in Greece. The bill incorporates key provisions of the European Pact and elements of the forthcoming European Returns Regulation to create a modern and functional system for managing migration flows.
- https://www.amna.gr/en/article/992600/Plevris-addresses-event-at-European-Parliament-on-new-Migration-and-Asylum-Pact – Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris addressed an event at the European Parliament focusing on the new European Strategy for Asylum and Migration, the implementation of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum starting on June 12, and the Return Regulation currently under negotiation. Plevris presented figures on Greece’s migration policy, stating that migration flows to the Greek islands decreased by approximately 70% during the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. He also referred to the implementation of the administrative detention system for asylum seekers not meeting the criteria for refugee status, which has been in effect since September 2025. According to the figures he presented, around 3,500 individuals are already being detained, while there is an increasing trend for voluntary returns. At the same time, he underlined the need to strengthen the European framework for returns, as well as the importance of cooperation with third countries in addressing irregular migration. He made special reference to the creation of Return Hubs in cooperation with member states of the European Union. According to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the objective remains the implementation of an “effective and balanced migration policy,” with emphasis on border protection, accelerating return procedures, and shaping a common European framework for managing migration issues.
- https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2026/05/12/greece-new-bill-migration-asylum/ – The Greek government presented a new draft bill that implements the European Pact on Migration and Asylum. The bill envisages a comprehensive overhaul of the national legislative framework for managing illegal migration, asylum, and returns. The bill has been uploaded for public consultation. According to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the new legislative framework seeks to strengthen the protection of the European Union’s external borders, accelerate asylum procedures, and create tougher and more effective return mechanisms for those not eligible for international protection and legal residence in the country. The bill incorporates key provisions of the new European Pact, while at the same time introducing crucial elements to the new European Returns Regulation that is still under negotiation, in order to create a modern, strict, and functional system for managing migration flows. Among the key provisions is a mandatory screening process for all irregularly arriving third-country nationals, which will include verification of identity, the taking of biometric data, security and health checks. It also calls for accelerated asylum procedures at the borders, with strict and binding deadlines for examining applications and the implementation of faster processes for rejecting applications that are clearly invalid or by persons from countries whose citizens have low rates of being granted refugee status. The new framework also reinforces the regime of detention and administrative surveillance of persons subject to a return process and foresees the creation of a more effective returns mechanism through increased cooperation with European organisations and EU member-states. This will include the use of return hubs situated in third countries, in line with the new European returns policy. The bill provides for the enhanced use of European registration and identification systems, including the new Eurodac, as well as strengthened operational cooperation with the European Union Agency for Asylum and Frontex for the surveillance of external borders and the implementation of returns. As highlighted by the ministry, Greece is moving promptly to adapt to the new European framework, aiming to create a system that combines effective border protection, the swift examination of applications for international protection, and the meaningful implementation of returns for those who are not entitled to remain in the country. According to the government, the country’s migration policy is based on clear rules: protection for those who genuinely qualify for it, but also immediate and effective return procedures for those who do not meet the requirements for international protection or legal residence.
- https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/12/08/migration-and-asylum-member-states-agree-on-solidarity-pool/pdf/ – On 22 December 2025, the Council of the EU adopted a political agreement on the establishment of the annual solidarity pool for 2026. This pool is a key component of the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, designed to provide effective support to member states under migratory pressure. The Pact, which becomes fully operational on 12 June 2026, aims to make the European asylum system more effective by clearly defining responsibilities for processing asylum applications and reducing illegal entry. It also provides for solidarity measures between member states to alleviate the burden on countries where most migrants arrive.
- https://www.amna.gr/en/article/992600/Plevris-addresses-event-at-European-Parliament-on-new-Migration-and-Asylum-Pact – Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris addressed an event at the European Parliament focusing on the new European Strategy for Asylum and Migration, the implementation of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum starting on June 12, and the Return Regulation currently under negotiation. Plevris presented figures on Greece’s migration policy, stating that migration flows to the Greek islands decreased by approximately 70% during the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. He also referred to the implementation of the administrative detention system for asylum seekers not meeting the criteria for refugee status, which has been in effect since September 2025. According to the figures he presented, around 3,500 individuals are already being detained, while there is an increasing trend for voluntary returns. At the same time, he underlined the need to strengthen the European framework for returns, as well as the importance of cooperation with third countries in addressing irregular migration. He made special reference to the creation of Return Hubs in cooperation with member states of the European Union. According to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, the objective remains the implementation of an “effective and balanced migration policy,” with emphasis on border protection, accelerating return procedures, and shaping a common European framework for managing migration issues.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article reports on Greece’s recent draft legislation implementing the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, dated 10 June 2026. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 12 May 2026, when the Greek government presented the draft bill for public consultation. (amna.gr) The article appears to be original, with no evidence of recycled news or discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes. However, the article relies on a press release from the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, which may influence its objectivity.
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Thanos Plevris, Greece’s Migration Minister, as reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA). (amna.gr) The earliest known usage of these quotes is 12 May 2026. While the quotes are consistent across sources, they cannot be independently verified beyond the AMNA report. The reliance on a single source for these quotes raises concerns about their verification.
Source reliability
Score: 6
Notes: The article originates from Greek City Times, a niche publication. The primary source of information is a press release from the Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum, which may present a biased perspective. The article also references AMNA, Greece’s state news agency, which is generally considered reliable but may have limitations in objectivity. The use of a single source for key information reduces the overall reliability of the article.
Plausibility check
Score: 7
Notes: The article reports on Greece’s draft legislation implementing the EU’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, with a focus on ‘return hubs’ and stricter return measures. These developments align with the EU’s ongoing efforts to reform migration and asylum policies, as evidenced by the Council’s adoption of the Pact on 14 May 2024. (consilium.europa.eu) However, the article’s reliance on a single source and the lack of independent verification of key claims raise concerns about its overall credibility.