Published : 09-06-2021
Greece aims to send back asylum seekers from Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria and Bangladesh who arrive from Turkey. The government says they are not in danger in Turkey and have no need of protection in Europe.
In a joint statement by the foreign ministry and the migration ministry on Monday the Greek government announced that it has designated Turkey as a "safe third country."
The migration minister, Notis Mitarakis, described the move as "a big step for the fight against illegal migration and criminal activities by smugglers".
The announcement is a clear signal to the Greek coast guard that people of these nationalities will not be permitted to remain in the EU, coast guard sources told the news agency dpa.
Data from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, show that 47% of the asylum seekers in Greek island camps are Afghans, 15% are Syrians and 9% are from Somalia.
The number of migrants living in the camps has been declining. The latest Greek government figures show that there are fewer than 9,000 people living on the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Kos, Leros and Samos. Last year, the number was over 40,000.
Greece aims to send back asylum seekers from Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria and Bangladesh who arrive from Turkey. The government says they are not in danger in Turkey and have no need of protection in Europe.
In a joint statement by the foreign ministry and the migration ministry on Monday the Greek government announced that it has designated Turkey as a "safe third country."
The migration minister, Notis Mitarakis, described the move as "a big step for the fight against illegal migration and criminal activities by smugglers".
The announcement is a clear signal to the Greek coast guard that people of these nationalities will not be permitted to remain in the EU, coast guard sources told the news agency dpa.
Data from the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, show that 47% of the asylum seekers in Greek island camps are Afghans, 15% are Syrians and 9% are from Somalia.
The number of migrants living in the camps has been declining. The latest Greek government figures show that there are fewer than 9,000 people living on the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Kos, Leros and Samos. Last year, the number was over 40,000.
