ATHENS, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Irregular migrant sea arrivals in Greece fell by 27 percent in the first half (H1) of 2026 from a year earlier, while migrant returns increased by 20 percent, according to data released Monday by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
Irregular migrant arrivals by sea declined to 12,496 between January and June, down from 16,985 in the same period of 2025. The ministry said this decline followed a 25-percent drop in irregular arrivals recorded throughout last year.
Meanwhile, total migrant returns rose 20 percent in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2025.
Ministry officials attributed the changes to enhanced cooperation with countries of origin and stricter enforcement of return policies.
Greece has long been a key gateway into the European Union for migrants crossing the eastern Mediterranean. More than one million migrants and refugees have arrived in the country over the past decade, many seeking to continue their journey to other European countries, while hundreds have died attempting the dangerous sea crossing. ■
