Greece has made it crystal clear—it won’t accept the return of asylum seekers from Germany unless there’s a fair and balanced approach across the European Union. Migration Minister Makis Voridis pushed back hard this week, responding to a landmark German court decision that greenlit deportations to Greece for the first time in years.
“Let’s not talk about returns before we talk about fairness,” Voridis said in a pointed interview with SKAI. “Greece is already one of the most heavily burdened countries in Europe when it comes to asylum applications. Asking us to take back more people without first making sure all EU states are pulling their weight? That’s simply not going to fly.”
His remarks came on the heels of a decision by Germany’s Federal Administrative Court, which ruled that single, able-bodied migrants can be returned to Greece despite its strained asylum infrastructure. The judgment stems from cases involving a stateless man from Gaza and a Somali national—both granted asylum in Greece, but who then reapplied for protection in Germany. Their claims were rejected, and the court ruled they could be deported back.
German officials say more than 25,000 people in similar situations—already granted asylum in Greece—have submitted fresh claims in Germany this year alone.
But Athens isn’t budging. Voridis made it clear there’s no open door for such deportations. “We have not received any official requests. But if we do, let’s just say we won’t exactly roll out the red carpet.”
He also pushed back against allegations of illegal “pushbacks” by Greek authorities, maintaining that Greece respects its border responsibilities under EU law. “We guard Europe’s front line. And our Coast Guard is out there every day, arresting smugglers and protecting lives. Yet all we hear is criticism,” he said. “Forty percent of our prison population are migrant smugglers—we’re doing our job.”
The message from Athens is unambiguous: without meaningful solidarity from fellow EU nations, the days of Greece quietly absorbing the brunt of the migration crisis are over.
