AYS Daily Digest 04/06/2021: Letters and memos from Greece
By: Are You Syrious
Tags: Refugees, Digest, Migration, Frontex, Greece

AYS Daily Digest 04/06/2021: Letters and memos from Greece

Greece wants to tackle border crossings with sound cannons // Syrians deported from Lebanon to Syria // Germany refuses solidarity with Italy // German nun fined for providing church asylum // New evictions in Bosnia and France Are You Syrious? Follow Jun 5 · 8 min read

Greek authorities are increasing efforts to prevent people from crossing the border. Credits: Twitter/@DimKairidis

Greece: Letters and memos

Several EU member states, including France, Germany and Italy, have complained about Greece’s failure to take back people who have moved on to other Western European countries. In a joint letter seen by politico, the speak about a “rapid increase” of people who were granted asylum in Greece travelling to other countries and asking for asylum a second time — in Germany alone, some 17,000 people have done this successfully since July 2020. “Some national courts,” the letter said, “consider that Greece is not ensuring that these persons are given suitable accommodation and provided with a minimum level of physical subsistence.” A Greek official denied the accusations, saying that Greece was fully compliant with its obligations and is not responsible for so-called secondary flows.

In an open letter to the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs of the Commission of the European Union, Koraki demands an end to EU funding for the Greek government. In particular, they refer to the ongoing human rights violations such as pushbacks:

We must request that, given the ongoing shocking, illegal and unacceptable behaviour by the Greek government towards men, women and children who are attempting to use their right to live, learn and work in safety, you could perhaps at least suspend further payments to the Greek government until these cases — cases the Commission itself wants to be investigated — are taken seriously and heard by the Greek government?

Regarding pushbacks, the Supreme Court Prosecutor has sent 15 First Instance Prosecutors a criminal complaint for the investigation of 147 cases of pushbacks with more than 7,000 people affected betweetn March and December, Racist Crime Watch reveals. But a memo leaked from the Migration Ministry shows that officials are trying to intimidate their own staff and ordering them to not take part in any court trials of possible illegal acts. Anyone doing this will face disciplinary action.

At the same time, there are media reports about the Greek border police intending to use sound cannons and drones on a new border fence. “It is part of a system of steel walls that is being installed and tested along with drones on the 200-kilometre border with Turkey for migration defence”, site36 writes. The EU has clarified that it is not involved in this project and expressed its concerns, but at the same time it is funding projects using drones for border surveillance on land, water and air.

Greek authorities have started vaccination campaigns on the Aegean islands. Every Thursday and Friday people will be offered the opportunity to get a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to RND. But only 15 percent have shown interest in the programme so far, the Migration Ministry said. It is estimated that some 30 percent already have antibodies and another 30 percent are minors, who cannot be vaccinated at this time.

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