Greece will not accept the return of migrants from Germany unless there is first an equal distribution of asylum seekers across the European Union, Minister of Migration and Asylum Makis Voridis has said.
Responding to a landmark ruling by Germany’s Federal Administrative Court that authorized migrant deportations to Greece for the first time in years, Voridis firmly rejected the idea of unilateral returns. “What returns are we talking about?” he asked. “When Greece is already the second most pressured country per capita in terms of asylum applications, it is unacceptable to discuss returns without first addressing the principle of equal distribution under European solidarity.”
Voridis insisted that the current migration burden is unevenly borne by frontline countries like Greece, which serves as an entry point into the EU for millions of migrants from the Middle East. He emphasized that under the EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact, no member state should be forced to shoulder the crisis alone. “This discussion cannot take place in a vacuum,” he said in an interview on SKAI. “Before we talk about sending people back [to Greece], we must first ensure that each country is taking their fair share.”
The German court decision, handed down earlier this month, permits the return of single, able-bodied migrants to Greece despite acknowledging ongoing shortcomings in the country’s asylum infrastructure. The ruling found that while Greece faces bureaucratic and logistical challenges, it still offers basic provisions for migrants, including shelter, food, and access to minimal employment.
The judgment arose from lawsuits by two migrants — a stateless man from northern Gaza and a Somali national — who were granted asylum in Greece but sought protection in Germany. Their applications were deemed inadmissible, prompting legal action that culminated in the Federal Administrative Court’s decision. The ruling could impact tens of thousands of similar cases: More than 25,000 migrants who had already received refugee status in Greece reapplied for asylum in Germany in 2024 alone, according to German authorities.
Voridis warned that Greece would not readily comply with any incoming deportation requests. “We currently have no application for returns. And if they ask us, we will not be very friendly to the request,” he said.
He also addressed ongoing scrutiny over alleged pushbacks by Greek authorities, denying any knowledge of such incidents. “We have no information about any pending case. Greece is a European border — we are guarding it, and we are doing so in accordance with our obligations,” he stated.
Highlighting the daily struggle against illegal migration, Voridis noted, “Our Coast Guard arrests a smuggler almost every day. About 40 percent of our prison population are migrant smugglers. We are in a constant battle to protect the borders of both Greece and Europe.”
“I only hear criticism of the Coast Guard. What about those who send people out on dangerous journeys without any safety measures?” he asked. “Our Coast Guard is doing an extraordinary job under impossible conditions. Our position on guarding the borders will not change.”
