Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has  told Parliament that the country will temporarily suspend the processing of asylum applications for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa.

The PM disclosed this  on Wednesday, citing a sharp increase in irregular arrivals.

The legislative measure, to be submitted to Parliament on Thursday, will initially pause applications for a period of three months. Mitsotakis described it as a “necessary, temporary response,” based on the same legal framework used during the 2020 migration crisis at the Evros border with Turkey.

“Those who enter the country illegally will be arrested and detained,” Mitsotakis said in his address to lawmakers, adding that the current situation “requires extraordinary measures.”

The government also plans to establish a new closed reception facility on the southern island of Crete to help manage the influx locally, with the option of creating a second center if necessary.

Talks are ongoing with both the internationally recognized government of Libya and the rival administration in eastern Libya, Mitsotakis said. He added that Greece’s armed forces are ready to cooperate with Libyan authorities to prevent migrant boats from departing.

“In coordination with Libyan officials, we are prepared to stop these vessels before they reach international waters, or ensure their return to their point of origin,” he said.