On Friday, the Greek parliament voted for three months to suspend processing asylum applications from migrants arriving from Africa.
“(Prime Minister) Kiriakos Mitotakis and this government believe we have a border, a territory and we protect it,” said Immigration and Asylum Minister Thanos Pleblis.
Greece is a major entry point for those fleeing Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Over 60,000 people were recorded in Greece last year, but UN figures show that most are at sea, with 48,000 people recorded in 2023 being well.
Of the 293 lawmakers, 177 members of the Governance New Democrat Party, Eliniki Rishi and several independents voted for the ban. Siliza, the Communist Party, Presi Eleferias and new leftist lawmakers voted against it.
United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCRand Michael O'Rohraherty, Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe; Expressed concern
“The new provisions violate EU and international law and are a terrible violation of human rights,” Lefteris Papagiannakis, president of the Greek Federation of Human Rights, told Birn. “With the revisions being expressed and what we are going through, we fear there will be a pushback,” he said.
After the Greek government suspended asylum claims in March 2020. YLVA Johansson, Secretary of the European Interior; intervention To allow people to still apply for asylum in Greece
“We are concerned about how the situation will develop over the next three months regarding access to asylum. Three months is the initial period. We don't know if the government will extend it,” Papagiannakis added.
Plevris's statements On Skai TV on July 10th, “On Aggression from Africa” was “increasing racism in Greece with far right and racism,” Papagiannakis added.
In addition to halting asylum applications, the Greek government plans to establish a closed detention facility on Crete. It's not yet known where it will be located.
Plevris, along with EU Interior and Migration Commissioners, Magnus Brunner, and Italian and Maltese officials, visited Libya on July 8 to discuss the curbing flow of migration. However, the mission failed after rival authorities in eastern Libya explained that the delegation was not welcome.
