The Greek government is moving to toughen penalties for migrant smuggling, with a new bill submitted to parliament proposing life imprisonment for those found guilty of trafficking migrants. The legislation also targets migrants who commit offenses, allowing for direct expulsion, and criminalizes assistance provided by migrants with legal status. Aid workers and NGO staff who are perceived to support irregular migration could face harsher sentences, prompting criticism from 56 NGOs, including Doctors of the World and MSF, who argue that the bill could restrict humanitarian work even before convictions are issued.
The government maintains that the law aims to curb irregular migration while promoting legal pathways, including simplified visa procedures for skilled workers, residence permits for students, and vocational training for asylum seekers and refugees in sectors with labor shortages. Despite these measures, recent weeks have seen multiple migrant deaths at sea, including incidents near the Greek island of Ikaria, where a speedboat carrying migrants struck rocks, resulting in fatalities and missing persons. Rescue efforts involved the Greek coast guard, air force, local fishermen, and Frontex, and at least one suspected trafficker was arrested following another interception near Chios.
Since the start of 2026, over 1,200 migrants have crossed toward Greece, highlighting the ongoing challenges of irregular migration in the Aegean. The new legislation reflects Greece’s dual approach of tightening enforcement against traffickers while expanding regulated migration and support for legal entrants, amid growing humanitarian concerns over dangerous sea crossings.
