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Greece approves controversial migration law
ATHENS, Nov 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Greece on Friday approved a law tightening
asylum procedures that has been widely criticised by rights groups as harmful
to the interests of migrants.
The government says the new rules will allow it to focus on swiftly
identifying refugees that need protection, instead of being bogged down by
thousands of applications by economic migrants which it says are not entitled
to asylum.
“These adjustments establish a compact law on international protection,”
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told lawmakers before the bill was
approved by his conservative party majority, with support from the
socialists.
Mitsotakis said Greece’s asylum system till now “was in a state of
prolonged paralysis” with nearly 70,000 pending requests.
“It gave the signal that people could come to Greece and stay for
unspecified periods of time, without any scrutiny,” said the conservative PM
who was elected in July on promises to bolster border patrols at land and
sea.
“This law… sends a clear message: enough with those who attempt to enter
and remain in our country whilst knowing that they are not entitled to
asylum,” he said.
Human rights groups have strongly criticised the bill, saying it introduces
stricter rules for receiving asylum seekers, delays access to the right to
work, narrows the definition of family, and imposes more burdens on torture
victims in being recognised as such.
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic also
noted Thursday that the draft she had seen, during a five-day visit to Greece
and talks with officials, “raises concerns from a human rights perspective”.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1947 hrs