Greek lawmakers voted late Tuesday to enact new measures designed to expedite the removal of asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected, while also establishing the framework for transferring them to detention facilities in nations outside the European Union once bilateral deals are finalized.
As the southernmost nation in Europe along the Mediterranean Sea, Greece serves as a primary gateway for migrants seeking to enter the continent. The country faced enormous pressure during the 2015-16 migration surge when over one million individuals from Middle Eastern and African nations made their way into Europe.
While the number of new arrivals has decreased since that period, two Greek islands closest to the African coastline – Crete and Gavdos – have experienced a significant increase in migrant vessels, primarily originating from Libya, arriving at their coastlines in recent years.
Last week, European Union legislators and national governments reached agreement on updated regulations that would permit member nations to transport migrants who have been ordered to depart to facilities located in non-EU countries. This decision has faced strong opposition from human rights organizations, which caution it may lead to potential mistreatment.
Greece has been collaborating with the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Austria to establish shared deportation and transit facilities, though discussions with Uganda regarding a comparable arrangement have been temporarily suspended.
Prior to Tuesday’s parliamentary vote, Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris indicated that EU member states have been conducting negotiations with non-EU nations as they work to finalize initial agreements this year, with the goal of having these facilities operational by 2027.
“The Greek government has already been in consultations with two African countries,” Plevris stated to the semi-state Athens News Agency on Wednesday. He declined to identify which specific countries were involved in these discussions.
