Rejections & Returns: Consequences of the EU-Turkey Statement

The EU-Turkey Statement from March 2016 stipulates that “[a]ll new irregular migrants crossing from Turkey into Greek islands as from 20 March 2016 will be returned to Turkey”. Under the adjusted procedures, people who arrive on the Greek islands are subjected to accelerated border procedures and an initial admissibility test on their asylum claim. The European Asylum Support Office (EASO), an EU agency, is in charge of “recommending” a decision to the competent Greek Asylum Service. Based on the dubious assumption that Turkey is a safe third country, many refugees currently face the risk of being deported back there.
This panel will look into the ongoing abysmal situation in the Greek Hotspots and discuss the post-deportation risks faced by individuals returned to Turkey. We will also discuss recent legal developments in Greece and the restart of Dublin transfers to Greece.