Migration flows from Turkey to Greece fell by 63%

Maritime migration flows V Greece in 2026 have decreased markedly: according to official data as of May 26, the total number of arrivals by sea has decreased by more than 40% compared to the same period in 2025.

The sharpest drop was recorded on the route from Turkey to the islands Eastern Aegean.

In this direction the number of arrivals decreased by 63%: With 8,082 people for the same period last year up to 3,029 in 2026. The number of incidents has also decreased – from 330 to 118. This shows that the eastern route, which for many years remained one of the main channels of pressure on the Greek islands, has weakened noticeably this year.

The decrease is associated with increased work Λιμενικό Σώμα – Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή (Greek Coast Guard), tighter control of maritime passages, rapid response to incidents and coordination with other Greek and foreign services. Simply put, in the eastern direction, the monitoring and response system began to work more closely – a rare case when a bureaucratic machine not only makes noise, but sometimes also moves.

Crete and the route from Libya

However, the southern direction remains much more difficult. On the route from Libya To Krita the decrease was only about 3%despite favorable weather conditions. This means that the problem has not disappeared, but is only kept within relative limits. And this is where the Greek authorities have to act more carefully: we are talking not only about migration, but also about the unstable situation in Libya, the work of local groups, smuggling networks and weak control of the coast.

Actually Crete the reception of arrivals, according to Greek media, has become more organized. Coordination coast guard with relevant ministries makes it possible to reduce the length of stay of migrants on the island and quickly send them to structures on the mainland of the country. For Crete, this is fundamentally important: the island should not turn into a permanent reservoir of migration pressure, as has already happened with a number of islands in the Eastern Aegean Sea.

Benghazi, training and Frontex

To contain the southern route, Greece is stepping up engagement with Libya. Delegation Greek Coast Guard visited Benghazi under the auspices Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ΥΠΕΞ)to discuss cooperation with the Libyan coast guard. It is also planned that there will be a permanent presence of a Greek liaison in Benghazi for the rapid exchange of information.

Training will be provided in the near future 35 Libyan Coast Guard personnel use and maintenance of operational facilities. In addition, Greece intends to transfer three watercraft coast guard exclusively for search and rescue operations in the Libyan area of ​​responsibility.

Surveillance over the region is also intensifying technically. According to Greek media, the area is already monitored around the clock by national and European means, including three planes and one UAV Frontex. Another aircraft should be included in the operational plan in June. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Editorial comment

Reduced flows from Turkey is an important result, but it does not mean that migration pressure on Greece has disappeared. It changes geography. When one route becomes difficult, carrier networks look for another. Today this direction remains the line Libya – Cretewhere the problem is complicated not only by distance, but also by political chaos on the Libyan side.

For Athens, the main risk is not to repeat the old mistake of initially thinking of a new route as temporary, then getting used to it, and then finding it has become permanent. The Eastern Aegean Sea has already shown what a migration corridor can become if a state waits too long for the problem to resolve itself. Crete definitely doesn’t need such a scenario.

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