Why Crete Regional Council Rejects New Migrant Facility

Unanimous “no” to the migrant facility

The decision of the Regional Council of Crete was clear and unanimous: the establishment of a migrant facility in Malades will not be permitted without the consent of local communities.

This stance stems from the need to safeguard social cohesion and public order, elements that are often overlooked when government planning ignores residents and local authorities.

Stavros Arnaoutakis, Regional Governor of Crete, clarified that political legitimacy cannot bypass social dialogue, thus pointing to the consequences of government decisions made without consultation.

The role of local government in migration management

Georgios Pitsoulis, Deputy Regional Governor of Crete, denounced the lack of substantive information and participation of local authorities in the facility planning process.

He emphasized that the Region and local authorities do not oppose migrants as human beings, but claim the right to manage the issue with respect for safety, social peace, and local needs.

The obligation of local government to meet basic needs, such as food, transportation, and healthcare, without corresponding funding from the central state, highlights the injustice and the risk of undermining local administration.

This is a burden that is essentially imposed due to the state’s failure to properly organize the facilities and respect local communities.

Criteria for creating a migrant facility

The Region of Crete demands complete and strict specifications for every migrant accommodation facility, with basic criteria:

• Guaranteed access to water and sanitation infrastructure.
• Possibility of dignified and safe accommodation.
• Operation outside urban areas to avoid tensions with local communities.
• Immediate and organized management for limited migrant stay and their transfer to mainland Greece.

Failure to respect these criteria causes not only hardship to the migrants themselves, but also tension and insecurity in the communities called upon to host them without a specific plan.

With information from Nea Kriti