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Migration situation at the Greek-Turkish border: ensuring the right to asylum
MEPs will quiz Commissioner Johansson and the Greek Government on Monday about the situation of asylum-seekers at the border with Turkey, focusing on fundamental rights.
Greek Ministers for Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrisochoidis, and for Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarachi, will update the Civil Liberties Committee on the latest developments at the border, in a follow-up to the debate held in April. Commissioner Ylva Johansson, Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri and a representative of the NGO Refugee Support Aegean will also present their views to the committee.
MEPs want to look in detail into the situation at both the land and sea borders, and the effect on fundamental rights, notably the right to asylum. The Greek authorities decided not to accept any asylum requests during the month of March, following Turkish President Erdoğan’s announcement that Turkey would open its borders with Greece.
According to UNHCR, 10,348 people arrived in Greece in the first half of 2020, with the biggest share coming from Afghanistan and Syria. The International Organization for Migration estimates that in that same period, 42 persons lost their lives attempting to reach Greece.
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