Greece's conservative government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has enacted a reform to its migration policy that significantly escalates penalties for human trafficking and criminalizes efforts to assist migrants. Approved on February 6 by the ruling New Democracy party, the new law has sparked outrage among humanitarian organizations, who argue that these legal changes will only exacerbate the plight of migrants and could lead to increased fatalities at sea.

The reform modifies articles 24 and 25 of the Greek Migration Code, intensifying sentences for those convicted of trafficking and extending legal repercussions to individuals and organizations who provide relief to migrants. This shift signals a stark change in Greece's approach to migration, transforming the nation into a more hostile environment for migrants and their allies, which could deter assistance and create a chilling effect on humanitarian efforts.

With Greece acting as a critical entry point to Europe for millions of migrants over the years, this new legislation aligns with a broader trend among European nations to tighten migration controls. Critics fear that the law will not only threaten the safety of migrants but will also tarnish Greece’s international standing as a proponent of human rights and humanitarian values, potentially leading to greater loss of life in the Mediterranean Sea as rescuers are deterred from acting in fear of prosecution.