 Humanitarian aid is in crisis Amid significant funding cuts, civil society calls on institutional and private donors to step up and work with civil society to ensure functioning asylum systems in Europe. At least 120 million people across more than 100 countries are directly affected by the suspension of U.S. funding, which previously accounted for 42% of global humanitarian financing. The sudden halt has disrupted food aid, health care, education, and protection services. In response, over 80 organizations have endorsed an ECRE-led letter, urging the European Commission, member states, and private donors to step up support and work with civil society to maintain effective asylum systems in Europe and prevent deepening crisis of inclusion, reception and protection in the continent. Immediate action is needed now. In the medium term, the new funding reality should be reflected in the proposals and negotiations of the next Multi-annual Financial Framework which will start this year. Read the full letter here |
Legal News  Greece condemned for the first time by the European Court of Human Rights for a pushback in Evros Case supported by the Greek Council for Refugees The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in January 7th 2025 published its judgment in the case of A.R.E. v. Greece (Application no. 15783/21), legally represented by lawyers of the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR). This is the first case to be examined by the ECtHR in relation to a complaint of pushback in the Evros region by the Greek authorities. Read the full Press Release here. The Council of State annuls the designation of Turkey as a 'safe third country' for asylum seekers In a decision of the Plenary of the Council of State, the Joint Ministerial Decision designating Turkey as a safe third country for asylum seekers originating from Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh has been annulled. This decision concludes a legal process that began with the challenge of the initial, substantively similar decision (42799/3.6.2021) issued by the Minister of Migration and Asylum and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. As we had pointed outthis decision left individuals - who flee their home countries in search of protection in a safe country - unprotected, undocumented, and vulnerable, despite the fact that all official reports and documentation record Turkey's long-standing and systematic violations of human rights and the rule of law. Specifically, the Council of State ruled that "from the case file accompanying the Joint Ministerial Decision 538595/12.12.2023 issued by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Migration and Asylum, titled ‘Designation of third countries as safe and compilation of a national list pursuant to Article 91 of Law 4939/2022 [...]’ (Government Gazette B’ 7063), andparticularly from the recommendation of the Director of the Asylum Service, it does not emerge that the criteria set out in Article 91 of Law 4939/2022 (Article 38 of Directive 2013/32/EU) were duly assessed for the designation of Turkey as a safe third country for the aforementioned categories of foreign nationals. This is because the recommendation and its attached Annex merely summarize the texts of the international sources considered, without specifically evaluating the information contained therein against the criteria set forth in the law, so as to substantiate the legal requirements for the designation.” Read the full Press Release hereOn 9 April 2025, even before the Council of State’s decision was published, , the Greek government released a new, similar Joint Ministerial Decision re-designating Türkiye as a "safe third country" for asylum seekers originating from Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.. The Ministers co-signed the new Joint Ministerial Decision, without waiting for the finalisation and publication of the Council of State judgment, in blatant violations of principles of legality and legal certainty and in dereliction of Article 95(5) of the Constitution, which provides that "[...] the administration has an obligation to comply with judicial decisions[...]".. Read the full Press Release of GCR & RSA here. |
Ένταξη Official launch of the Helios+ program On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the official launch of the HELIOS+ programme took place at the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, marking a new step for the integration of refugees and beneficiaries of international protection into Greek society. The Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) participates as the implementing agency of the programme in 4 regions, in Western Greece, Peloponnese, Eastern Macedonia & Thrace and North Aegean (implementation period: 1/1/2025 - 31/12/2026), aiming at the effective integration of refugees through actions focusing on the following main axes: Housing and Independent Living Support Career Development and Employability Support Community Engagement and Awareness The HELIOS+ Centres will complement the existing Migrant Integration Centres, ensuring close cooperation with local institutions and services. HELIOS+ is implemented by the International Organization for Migration through the NSRF 2021-2027 and co-funded by the European Union. For more information about the programme follow the link. https://greece.iom.int/el/helios. |
| Αdvocacy Pushbacks at european borders: A reality ignored despite growing challenges PRAB’s ninth report confirms the grim and ongoing rights violations and humanitarian toll at Europe’s borders, questioning the EU’s commitment to human dignity. The latest report from the Protecting Rights at Borders (PRAB) initiative, The pushback – disconnect: current and anticipated practice, reveals a grim and ongoing crisis at Europe’s borders. For years, pushbacks—the practice of forcibly returning migrants and asylum-seekers without due process—have been employed as a systematic border management tool. Despite international legal frameworks designed to safeguard human rights, these practices continue to flourish, often leaving vulnerable individuals in precarious and life-threatening situations. Between January and October 2024, PRAB documented thousands of pushbacks across Europe, adding to the staggering total of over 46,000 since 2021. These figures represent more than numbers; they encapsulate stories of hardship, desperation, and courage. Migrants and refugees fleeing conflict, persecution, and poverty often find themselves trapped in a cycle of violence and neglect, their rights routinely disregarded by the very systems meant to protect them. The EU’s Pact on Asylum and Migration was expected to address such systemic issues. Yet, PRAB’s findings paint a different picture, suggesting that the Pact, while promising on paper, fails to tackle the root causes and consequences of pushbacks effectively. Instead of being met with compassion and due process, many migrants are likely to continue encountering hostility, violence, and bureaucratic indifference at Europe’s borders. Read the full report here.  New GCR Report: Access to Justice for Refugees in GreeceThe report reveals significant discrepancies between the legal provisions guaranteeing equal access to justice for beneficiaries of international protection and the on-ground realities faced by refugees in Greece. This initiative builds on a longstanding collaboration between the two organizations, which have previously developed resources to enhance public access to immigration knowledge and rights. Read the full report here.  “It does not feel like real life”: children’s everyday life in Greek refugee camp The Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) and Save the Children (SC) have launched a groundbreaking report entitled “It Does Not Feel Like Real Life”: Children’s Everyday Life in Greek Refugee Camps, which highlights the challenges faced by children living in refugee camps across Greece. The study provides an in-depth look into the lived experiences of these children, drawing on 32 interviews with children, their caregivers, and experts, including state officials. The report reveals the struggles endured by refugee and migrant children, who account for one in four applicants for international protection in Europe. Greece, as a major entry point to Europe, saw over 6,400 refugee and migrant children arrive in the first six months of 2024—a staggering fourfold increase from the same period in 2023. Read the full report here.  Struggle for Accountability: The State of the Rule of Law in Greece Today The independent organisations Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), Hellenic League for Human Rights (ELEDA), HIAS Greece, Homo Digitalis, Refugee Support Aegean (RSA), Reporters United, Solomon and Vouliwatch, are documenting systemic problems of Greek institutions that affect the rule of law,with our new contribution to the annual audit of national systems conducted by the European Commission through the Rule of Law Report.. We identify a number of cross-cutting issues impacting on different aspects of the Rule of Law in the country, with an emphasis on the following: Justice: Absence of accountability in state institutions "Bad" legislation Freedom of the press: Leading the EU for the third year Privacy: Violations by state authorities Corruption: flouting transparency rules Download the full report here |
 A collection with messages of solidarity by GCR The Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), in collaboration with the artist The Rabbit Knows, presents the collection “Here come the strangers...”, which includes six unique sketches that examine the alienation and stereotypes associated with refugees and migrants. With a strong dose of humour, the sketches attempt to break down stereotypes about refugees and migrants and put the brakes on fear of the ‘Other’, giving through funny lines the dose of love and inclusivity we need. The collection includes fabric bags and notebooks in 6 different designs and you can get them with a minimum donation of 10 euros, supporting the work of the Greek Council for Refugees. See the whole collection here.  Emergency Appeal - We need you by our side! Thousands of refugees are at risk of losing access to legal aid as funding for humanitarian action is drastically reduced. The Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), the main organisation that provides legal aid provider for refugees and asylum seekers in the Greece, is facing a severe funding crisis, which is jeopardizing free legal assistance for over 5,000 refugees and asylum seekers. Without immediate assistance, vulnerable groups will be left without representation in critical legal proceedings, leading to more rejections, delays and suffering. Since 2021, the ERC has assisted over 140 family reunions, but this vital work is now at risk.Help us continue to support those in need. Make a donation today. |
