Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reaffirmed his commitment to extending the Evros border fence across the entire length of the Greco-Turkish land border during the 2nd Pre-Congress of New Democracy in Alexandroupoli.
“The fence will cover the entirety of Evros so that we remain permanently secure against any threat,” the Prime Minister stated. He further assured that the expansion would be bolstered by “increased personnel, improved coordination, and advanced technical surveillance.”
Recalling the 2020 border crisis
Reflecting on the events of February 2020, Mitsotakis noted that Greece successfully countered a “hybrid attack” at the border.
“We managed to secure the country and avert a development that I believe would have had dramatic consequences—not just for Greece, but for Europe as a whole,” he said. He argued that this moment catalyzed a fundamental shift in EU migration policy, as Europe finally “recognized the necessity of guarding the Union’s external borders.”
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to criticize those he accused of “weaponizing” the migration issue, referencing the 2022 controversy of “Little Maria”—a reported child death on an Evros islet that was later largely debunked.
“Some were obsessed with ‘Little Maria,’ the deceased girl who never existed,” Mitsotakis remarked.
Greece reports a significant drop in migrant flows
Other key cabinet members provided updates on the security and migration landscape:
Michalis Chrysochoidis (Minister of Citizen Protection): Declared the Evros border “impregnable,” noting that 75 kilometers of the fence are complete, with another 5 kilometers imminent. He highlighted that 1,200 border guards are now stationed in the region and claimed that illegal migration flows have been effectively neutralized.
Thanos Plevris (Minister of Migration and Asylum): Provided statistical context, noting that flows in the Eastern Aegean and Evros have decreased by 60%. “From 48,000 arrivals in 2024, we dropped to 21,000 in 2025,” Plevris stated, adding that pending asylum applications have been reduced to 26,000.
Related: Greece Offers €10,000 Relocation Incentive for Evros
