MacroPolis

ND unveils migration bill seeking to tighten up asylum process, speed up returns

The government is seeking to overhaul Greece’s asylum procedure with the aim of tightening up the process and producing quicker decisions as well as faster returns of migrants who are not eligible for protection.

ND unveils steps to address migration issue amid political pressure

Mindful of the potential political damage it could suffer if it is not deemed to be managing the migration situation adequately, the government has announced a range of measures aimed at showing that it is addressing the uptick in arrivals and deteriorating conditions at hotspots.

Is Greece facing a new migration crisis?

By: Georgia Nakou

On August 30, a flotilla of 13 inflatable boats carrying 547 migrants arrived on a beach on the north coast of the island of Lesvos. Photos showing rows of beached dinghies and lifejackets triggered memories of the height of the migrant crisis in 2015/2016, and sparked media headlines warning of new dangers.

Government courts backlash over squat raids, while opposition is absorbed in internal debate

As the new cabinet in Athens grapples with complex legislative initiatives on tax and investment, a series of highly visible actions on the policing front are being seen as confirmation of the new government’s willingness to implement the hard-line law and order agenda which was a mainstay of its election campaign.

Report exposes fractured and incomplete response to refugees

A report by Pro Asyl and Refugee Support Aegean has heavily criticised Greece’s asylum seeker reception framework and highlighted significant failures and lack of cohesion in the country’s refugee response.

Unfavourable views of EU strongest in Greece, survey indicates

A survey by the Pew Research Center has outlined the opinions of Greeks and European citizens on the role of the European Union (EU) and its perceptions by citizens in several countries.

New increase in flow of refugees to Greece causes unease

By: Omaira Gill

Greece is facing a potentially explosive situation as the largely unaddressed refugee crisis has begun to take on new and troubling aspects in 2018.

Greece registers 42,425 asylum seekers at rising rate in two years of EU-Turkey deal

The Migration Ministry released a report which summarises the activities of the Greek asylum service in the two years since the EU-Turkey refugee deal came into effect.

Athens hits back over EU's refugee criticism, but domestic gripes more of a concern

The refugee issue continued to pose a significant challenge to the government over the Christmas break, with Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas trying to deflect some of the criticism aimed at Athens, particularly in relation to the conditions at island hot spots.

Tusk proposals over refugee quotas puts Athens on alert ahead of EU summit

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is said to be steeling himself for a potential clash within the European Union over the fate of refugees, which has also been causing domestic problems of late.