On 7 August, Greek Migration Minister Athanasios Plevris warned in an interview with public broadcaster ERT that if migrant flows to Crete rebound, Athens will not hesitate to extend the suspension of all asylum applications from migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. He added that the current measures of the Greek government have resulted in a sharp drop in arrivals. Within days, arrivals plunged from 2,642 in the first week of July to 913 in the whole period since then. Plevris claimed that ‘All European countries now understand that it is not possible to have open borders, it’s not possible to welcome illegal migrants with flowers.’ He emphasized that ‘Europe has exceeded its capabilities and will not accept any more illegal migrants.’ The minister also announced plans for new legislation making illegal entry punishable by up to five years in prison for those whose claims do not qualify under armed-conflict exemptions.
