Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday defended Greece’s migration policy during a visit to the eastern Aegean island of Leros, saying tighter border controls had sharply reduced migrant arrivals and restored the islands as tourist destinations.
“Greece actively protects its borders, flows have decreased significantly, and instead of the 2019 image with many refugees and migrants, we now see many visitors,” Mitsotakis said.
He criticized the previous government’s approach, arguing it had treated Greece’s maritime borders as effectively open and turned the eastern Aegean islands into reception points for migrants.
He described border security, stability and the management of migration as “an essential prerequisite,” adding that residents should feel safe because “the country has never had such strong armed forces.”
Mitsotakis said his government would, “in the general election of spring, 2027,” seek a renewed mandate based on its record in office. He pointed to projects financed through the EU Recovery Fund, many of which he said were carried out by local and medium-sized businesses.
