UN Criticises Greece's Suspension of Asylum Applications

Asylum seekers, mostly from Syria, seeking to land on the Greek island of Lesbos in 2015.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Thursday raised concern over Greece’s decision to suspend the submission of asylum applications from people arriving by sea from North Africa, warning that it risks breaching international law and undermining the country’s longstanding commitment to protecting those fleeing conflict and persecution.

The proposed measure, currently being debated in the Greek Parliament, would halt asylum registration for three months and allow for the return of new arrivals without assessing their claims. It comes amid a recent increase in landings on the southern islands of Gavdos and Crete.

While acknowledging the strain of managing new arrivals, UNHCR stressed that such measures must remain within the boundaries of international and European law.

“States have the right to manage borders and address irregular migration,” the agency said in a statement. “However, controlling a state’s borders must be in line with international and European law.”

The right to seek asylum, UNHCR emphasised, is “a fundamental human right enshrined in international, European and national law – and applies to everyone, regardless of how or where they arrive in a country.”

“Even during periods of migratory pressure,” the statement continued, “states must ensure that people seeking asylum have access to asylum procedures.”

The proposed Greek legislation would deny asylum seekers the ability to lodge applications and instead provide for their return, prompting fears of refoulement – the forced return of individuals to countries where they may face threats to their life or freedom.