Heavily criticized stricter legislation on asylum and migration
After a strongly xenophobic pre-EU election public debate and the electoral success of the far-right party LAOS, in July 2009 the legislative framework of Greece was amended in stricter terms concerning asylum and migration. Controversial new provisions abolish second instance examination of asylum applications, while they allow 18 month administrative detention and expulsion of migrants if penal action is started against them, even for petty misdemeanors. The law draft was heavily criticised by institutions and civil society, such as the National Commission for Human Rights, the UNHCR, and important NGOs. UNHCR withdrew its representatives from the commissions for the examination of asylum applications as the new procedures do not guarantee a fair and effective asylum awarding process. The European Association for the Defence of Human Rights, the RAXEN NFP HLHR-KEMO and the Hellenic League for Human Rights in a joint intervention on 3.6.2009 addressed a public letter to the Greek Prime Minister and Interior Minister about the asylum crisis and the rise of racist violence in Greece. At the joint press conference and press release on 16.07.2009, 15 NGOs, denounced the legislation amendments as well as their exclusion from public consultation and public debate in the media: ‘no opportunity to speak has yet been given to the representatives of organisations that deal with migrants’.
Source:
UNHCR, 17.07.2009, http://www.unhcr.gr/fileadmin/Greece/News/2009/unhcrstatement.pdf
Skai.gr, 20.07.2009, http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/124228/ΣυνάντησηΠαυλόπουλουΠαπούλιαγιαμετανάστευση/
Skai.gr, 21.07.2009, http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/124258/ΗΎπατηΑρμοστείαγιατοάσυλοστηνΕλλάδα/
Greek Council for Refugees, 28.08.2009, http://www.gcr.gr/en/node/265
Needs revision: except for the Presidential decree 81/2009 on asylum, need to complete with other relevant measures.
