French newspaper Atlantico has reported that the Greek island of Crete is emerging as a new migration hotspot, citing Europe’s failure to stem the flow of irregular migrants departing from Libya.
The report said that human smuggling networks are increasingly redirecting migrant crossings toward southern Greek islands, exposing the limits of European border controls and reshaping migration routes across the Mediterranean.
According to Greek authorities, more than 1,000 irregular migrants arrived on Crete during December alone, highlighting a sharp increase in arrivals to southern Greek islands.
Over 650 migrants were intercepted or rescued within a 48-hour period, underscoring the growing strain on local authorities. One of the largest incidents occurred off the coast of Gavdos, Greece’s southernmost island, where 545 migrants were rescued from an overcrowded fishing vessel before being transferred to Crete, which lacks adequate infrastructure to absorb such numbers.
Additional crossings were recorded shortly afterward, including the interception of a rubber boat carrying 27 migrants southeast of Kaloi Limenes and the discovery of another vessel transporting 35 migrants near Psari Forada.
These incidents reflect a broader trend identified by Atlantico, which notes that smugglers are increasingly bypassing traditional central Mediterranean routes in favor of longer and riskier passages from Libya to southern Greece.
Despite years of European engagement with Libyan authorities aimed at curbing departures, Libya remains the primary launch point for irregular migration toward Europe. The report argues that European efforts have focused more on containment than on addressing Libya’s structural challenges, including insecurity, porous borders, and entrenched smuggling networks. As a result, migration flows continue, but routes shift whenever enforcement intensifies in one area.
Official figures show that Greece recorded nearly 39,500 irregular arrivals between January and October 2025, an overall decrease compared to the previous year.
However, Atlantico stresses that the rise in arrivals to Crete and Gavdos suggests displacement rather than deterrence. Italy, meanwhile, has seen relatively stable arrival numbers, reinforcing the argument that migration pressure is being redistributed across the Mediterranean.
