Pleuris: "benefits are running out – either work or leave Greece"

Minister of Migration and Asylum Greece Thanos Plevris presented a bill to the parliamentary commission, which he himself described as having clearly expressed ideological dimensionaimed at curbing illegal migration and simultaneous expansion of channels for legally attracting foreign labor.

We are talking about a draft law “Promotion of legal migration policy, implementation of the Directive (EU) 2024/1233 on a uniform application procedure for residence and work permits for third-country nationals, as well as a uniform set of rights for legally resident workers from third countries, changes to the Migration Code and other provisions”.

Speaking to deputies, Plevris said: “This bill reflects the ideology of our political force: we are building a huge fence against illegal migration and leaving a small door for legal migration.”.

The Minister emphasized that migrants granted asylum must integrate into the labor marketand not live solely off government benefits. As an example, he cited the situation with refugees from Sudan: “If a migrant from Sudan receives asylum and claims to be a farmer, we send him to a structure in Koutsohero where he will study Greek crops. Then we link it to the labor market.”.

At the same time, Plevris formulated the key principle of the new policy extremely strictly: “We are stopping benefit payments. Either you go to work, or you get up and leave Greece. The logic “I feed him and water him” is wrong. Until the end of his asylum period, he will work and not live on benefits.”.

Responding to criticism from the speaker PASOK Nagy Giannakopoulouwho accused the minister of “legislatively persecutes those he does not like”Plevris answered bluntly: “Yes. I hate human traffickers and am taking legal action against them.”.

He clarified that the law does not criminalize participation in activities NGO as such, but provides more severe punishments for NGO members involved in migrant trafficking networks.

“If tomorrow a rule appears according to which lawyers involved in migrant smuggling will be punished more severely, I will not be outraged. I would only be outraged by this if I myself was involved.”said the minister.

Plevris also reported that one of the NGOs had filed a legal complaint against the biometric teststhrough which authorities verify whether migrants are truly minors, as they often initially claim.

In addition, the minister announced the abolition “closed professional regime” for NGOs that previously received direct contracts from the ministry without competitive procedures:

“NGOs took on the tasks of the ministry – transportation, translations, etc. – and received direct payments for this. This practice is now being stopped, as the Court of Auditors has indicated a violation of European law.”.

Separately, Plevris focused on the norm providing revocation of residence permit for migrants who received it for work, but were subsequently left without employment:

“A residence permit is issued for work. If a person is unemployed, what purpose does this serve? Now this permission will be revoked.”.

According to the minister, “tough migration policy is not slogans, but actions in practice”. He noted that a significant reduction in migration flows was recorded precisely in the last five months of 2025after the introduction of criminal liability for illegal stay in the country.

In conclusion, Plevris reported that Greece is negotiating with four other countries about the creation return centers outside the European Union:

“We are discussing the creation of return centers outside Europe for those who cannot be deported because their countries will not accept them back. Then you will see how sharply illegal arrivals will decrease.”he said.

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