AYS Daily Digest 09/06/2021 — Campaign Mounts to Abolish Frontex
By: Are You Syrious
Tags: Digest, Migrants, Refugees, Abolish Frontex, Frontex

GREECE

Government attempts to defend sound cannons

After news spread last week that the Greek government is using sound cannons at the Evros border, the outrage was widespread. Now, the government is attempting to defend its actions by saying, “What the police do, they must do in their own way” (in the words of Migration Minister Mitarakis).

Meanwhile, the EU has clarified that it did not fund the sound cannons directly, although since it funds so many other murderous projects on the external borders, its hands are hardly clean. Ylva Johansson also did not issue a direct condemnation of this violation of human rights, instead calling it “a strange way of protecting your border.” That same day, the official Greek Ministry of Migration’s Facebook page posted a photo of Johansson and Mitarakis gleefully touching elbows and praising the cooperation between the EU and Greece, without a single word addressing the sound cannons.

For more on the sound cannons and other weapons in the Mediterranean, check out this discussion (in German) with MEP Erik Marquardt.

New pact, de facto end to migration access

Even though the New Pact on Migration and Asylum is technically still under discussion, the Greek government has moved ahead with plans that de facto alter the asylum system, without needing consultations from the EU on its actions. Through new closed centers, concrete walls around existing camps, and deals with third countries such as the one with Turkey that we covered in a previous digest, the government is largely closing opportunities for people to apply for asylum. While the member states continue to quarrel, including over “secondary travel” from Greece, it is unlikely that there will be a functioning solidarity mechanism soon, despite Swiss promises that they would join a system that distributes asylum seekers even though they are not an EU member. Meanwhile, the Commission oversees an expansion of border proceedings with very little oversight. Even if the New Pact is never implemented, some of its worst policies could affect the lives of people on the move for a long time to come.

The designation of Turkey as a safe third country for several groups making up the largest asylum applicants in Greece could seriously undermine access to asylum. The European Commission said that Greece will still have to assess people’s applications individually, but Ylva Johansson also said “there can be a swift approach for returns.” It is impossible to thoroughly assess individual cases while deporting people quickly. Once again, the EU is attempting to cover itself rhetorically while doing nothing substantial.

Updates from Lesvos

The Greek government promised that people will not spend another winter in tents on the Greek islands, including Lesvos. However, many are skeptical of this claim, since the “temporary” camp at Mavrovouni has been in place for months with no improvement on its conditions or progress on an alternate setting.

Current conditions on Lesvos are physically and psychologically damaging for the people forced to live in tents. This is taking a particularly high toll on children. There have been 456 children treated for mental health problems in 2019 and 2020 alone. Of those, almost 200 displayed signs of self-harm or had attempted suicide. Who knows how many other children have fallen through the cracks?

The MSF released this information as part of its wider report on the manufactured crisis at the Greek border, a report which you can read here.

Updates from Patras

People in the Port of Patras are reporting “increased pressure” from authorities, according to conversations No Name Kitchen experienced. Some people even reported encountering German officers. The people described arbitrary detention, threats, physical beatings in prison, and pushbacks from Italy. For more on the situation, read No Name Kitchen’s dispatch here.

Updates from Athens

Greek authorities have been caught refusing vaccines to people whose asylum applications were rejected. As Manos Moschopoulos put it, “The virus does not check papers before it infects people.”

Khora Community Kitchen in Athens has reduced its opening times due to a lack of funding. To learn more about their new hours as well as how you can support the organization, go here.