Thoughts on Migration

Reflections about Greece’s approach to the migrants crisis

by Maria roidi

Greece has a new center-right government since the sum mer of 2019. Its approach to immigration is quite different from that of its predecessors, with more measures and restrictions being taken for asylum seekers. The government claims that this will make the system more efficient but some organizations do not seem convinced.

Until the summer of 2019, the Greek refugee reception centers were under the management of the Ministry of Immigration. On July 8, 2019, the newly elected government decided to transfer the responsibility of the centers to the Ministry of Citizen Protection - which is responsible for Greece’s public security services. Compared to the government of Alexis Tsipras, the new government has taken a tougher line on immigration, denouncing its predecessors for the mistreatment of the refugee crisis and the abandonment of people in inhumane conditions in overcrowded refugee camps. In addition, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has launched

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an investigation into alleged irregularities involving EU funds granted to Greece under the Tsipras government to improve the living conditions of immigrants and refugees. In the summer of 2019, the Greek government of Nea Dimokratia announced that it would not provide health cards to non-EU nationals, thus preventing refugees and immigrants from accessing the Greek health system. Parliament also passed a controversial new asylum law, aimed at speeding up the process. In addition, the government announced the closure of the notorious reception and identification centers in the eastern Aegean, the creation of new closed detention centers, and the conversion of open refugee accommodation centers located on the mainland into controlled centers. According to the law 4375/2016, new arrivals should stay in these centers for a maximum of 25 days. Until recently, the 5 RICs located on the islands served as registration centers as well

“The Greek government of Nea Dimokratia announced that it would not provide health cards to non-EU nationals.”

as open accommodation centers for asylum seekers and persons subject to the return / repatriation process. In fact, these centers housed refugees and migrants for more than 25 days, until repatriation or asylum procedures were finalized. Only on the mainland, the Outpost center operated for registration procedures with a real stay of up to 25 days. From the beginning of the refugee crisis until today, thousands of people have been and are trapped for more than a year on the Greek islands in inhumane conditions, suffering from a lack of safe food, water, medical care and housing. The Human Rights Watch issued a press release on December 4, 2019, urging the Greek government to take steps to ensure basic rights, services and security for women and girls in Moria and other hotspots on the islands.

“Thousands of people have been and are trapped for more than a year on the Greek islands in inhumane conditions.”

The new law 4636/2019 on asylum aims to support the Greek Authorities in dealing with asylum applications faster. My personal thought is that by this method the asylum process will in fact be faster, however the applications are not taken into account with all the appropriate details and many people are obliged to return to their countries. As a lawyer, I had 2 cases with asylum seekers who had the authorities decline their application twice. The next step was to apply to the Greek Courts and try to win the case in court. The process is very slow, as the people do not have their papers, and also do not have money, and still, after 3-4 months, we are waiting for the Court Decision.

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