Greece's proposal for a European Emergency Migration Mechanism has won broad support from the majority of EU member stat...

Greece's proposal for a European Emergency Migration Mechanism has won broad support from the majority of EU member states, according to Greece's Ministry of Migration and Asylum. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris announced the development after meetings at the EU Council on Thursday. The mechanism, proposed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is designed to fill a structural gap in the EU's current framework. It would give member states immediate operational and legal cover at external EU borders when migration flows are used as a hybrid threat by third countries. Under the proposal, a Special Derogation Regime would be triggered when specific conditions are met simultaneously: a rapid surge in arrivals, the saturation of local reception infrastructure, and evidence of state-organized facilitation of migration flows from third countries. All three criteria would need to be present for activation. Once activated, the mechanism would allow for a temporary suspension of asylum applications, fast-track return procedures, and immediate Frontex operational support. Plevris said the proposal aims to protect Europe from mass illegal migration flows, adding that the EU Commissioner has already collected member state feedback and is expected to bring a formal European Commission proposal to the next Council. Earlier Thursday, Plevris took part in a working breakfast with the Core Group, a bloc of five like-minded member states including Greece, Denmark, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, which regularly coordinates on migration strategy. The group is focused on establishing return hubs in third countries. On the sidelines, Plevris also held bilateral meetings with IOM Director General Amy Pope and with his counterparts from Belgium and Norway. Greece's Secretary General for Migration Policy Nadia Papakosta and the Asylum Service Director Marios Kaleas accompanied the minister. #Greece #EU #Migration