The Role of Greece in EU Migration Policy Reform
Introduction
The European Union (EU) has long been at the forefront of migration challenges due to its geographic position and the political and economic stability that attracts millions of migrants and refugees. Among the member states, Greece has played a pivotal role in shaping and influencing the The EU's migration policy reform. This role has emerged primarily due to its geographic location as a gateway between Europe and the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. As a country situated on the southeastern edge of Europe, Greece has faced immense pressure from migration flows , particularly since the onset of the Syrian civil war and other conflicts in the Middle East. This article will explore Greece's role in EU migration policy reform, focusing on its historical context, current challenges, and the evolution of the EU's migration framework.
Historical Context of Migration to Greece
Historically, Greece has been a key transit and destination country for migrants due to its proximity to conflict zones in the Middle East and Africa. Since the early 2000s, Greece has been experiencing substantial increases in irregular migration. The country's numerous islands in the Aegean Sea , such as Lesbos and Kos, lie close to Turkey, making them natural entry points for asylum seekers attempting to reach Europe.
The migration crisis of 2015–2016 was a significant turning point for Greece. In that period, over a million refugees, mainly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, traveled through Turkey to reach Greece and the EU. Many entered the EU by crossing the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, making Greece the first point of entry for hundreds of thousands of refugees. The crisis brought Greece to the forefront of EU migration discussions, forcing the country to grapple with the significant strain on its asylum system, border control, and reception facilities.
This wave of migration exposed significant shortcomings in Greece's infrastructure, leading to overcrowded camps, poor living conditions, and mounting tensions between local communities and refugees. Greece's response, largely shaped by its limited resources and the enormity of the situation, highlighted the urgent need for a EU coordinated migration policy.
The EU-Turkey Agreement and Greece's Role
In response to the 2015 migration crisis, the EU-Turkey Statement (commonly referred to as the EU-Turkey Deal) was reached in March 2016. Greece played a central role in the formulation and implementation of this agreement. The EU-Turkey Deal aimed to stem the flow of migrants entering Europe by stipulating that all irregular migrants arriving on Greek islands would be returned to Turkey, while for every Syrian returned to Turkey, another Syrian would be resettled in the EU.
Greece became the key implementing actor in this agreement, tasked with processing asylum claims and managing returns to Turkey. However, the country's limited resources and overwhelmed asylum system made the implementation of the deal highly challenging. The agreement faced criticism from humanitarian organizations, citing the inhumane conditions in Greek reception centers, legal challenges in processing asylum claims, and inadequate safeguards for refugees' rights.
Despite these challenges, the EU-Turkey Deal marked a turning point in EU migration policy, illustrating the increasing importance of externalizing border control and relying on third countries, such as Turkey, to manage migration. Greece's experiences during this period underscored the need for EU -wide reforms in burden-sharing, solidarity, and the management of migration flows.
Greece and the Dublin Regulation
Another key issue in the EU migration policy framework is the Dublin Regulation. The Dublin system, introduced in 1990 and revised several times, determines which EU country is responsible for processing asylum applications. Typically, it is the country where the asylum seeker first enters the EU, which in many cases has been Greece. Under this system, Greece was left to process the overwhelming majority of asylum applications from refugees entering through its borders.
For Greece, the Dublin Regulation has been a point of contention. It has placed disproportionate pressure on the country, exacerbating overcrowding in refugee camps and straining its limited resources. While the intent of the regulation was to prevent "asylum shopping" and ensure that every asylum application is processed by one member state, in practice, it has contributed to significant inequities in the distribution of asylum seekers across the EU.
Greece, along with other frontline states like Italy and Spain, has called for a reform of the Dublin system to establish a fairer burden-sharing mechanism. The country has advocated for an EU-wide system that distributes asylum seekers more equitably, considering each member state's capacity and resources. In recent years, this call has gained more traction, especially after the large-scale migration movements of 2015–2016, highlighting the inadequacies of the existing system.
The Greek-Turkish Border and Its Geopolitical Implications
Greece's geopolitical position has a profound impact on the EU's migration policies. The country shares a land and sea border with Turkey, a key transit country for migrants and refugees. The Greek-Turkish border has become a focal point for EU border control, as well as a symbol of the broader geopolitical tensions between the EU and Turkey.
In February 2020, Turkey announced that it would no longer prevent refugees and migrants from crossing into Greece, effectively threatening the collapse of the EU-Turkey Deal. This led to a standoff at the Greek-Turkish border, where thousands of migrants tried to cross into Greece. In response, Greece increased its border security, with support from the EU's border agency, Frontex.
This incident demonstrated the vulnerability of the EU's migration policies to geopolitical tensions. Greece's role as a buffer state between the EU and Turkey has been both a burden and a point of leverage in migration policy discussions. While Greece has faced significant challenges in managing migration flows , it has also used its position to push for more robust EU support, particularly in terms of financial assistance, increased border security, and a fairer distribution of asylum seekers across the EU.
Greece's Role in Advocating for EU Solidarity
Throughout the ongoing migration crisis, Greece has been a vocal advocate for increased EU solidarity in managing migration. The country has argued that migration is not solely a national issue but a European one that requires collective responsibility. Greece's position has been bolstered by other southern European countries, such as Italy, Spain, and Malta, which have also been on the frontlines of migration flows.
In response to these demands, the EU has made some efforts to provide financial and logistical support to Greece. The European Commission has allocated funds to help Greece improve its reception facilities and asylum processing systems, while Frontex has played a larger role in border control operations in the Aegean Sea. Nevertheless, Greece has continued to push for a more comprehensive EU-wide migration policy that includes mandatory relocation schemes for asylum seekers, a fairer distribution of responsibility, and a long-term solution to the Dublin Regulation's shortcomings.
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum
In September 2020, the European Commission proposed a new Pact on Migration and Asylum aimed at overhauling the EU's approach to migration. Greece has been an important player in shaping the debate around this new pact, given its frontline status in the migration crisis. The pact seeks to address many of the concerns raised by Greece, including the need for a more balanced distribution of asylum seekers across the EU and the strengthening of border management systems.
One of the key elements of the new pact is a mandatory “solidarity mechanism,” which would require all member states to contribute to managing migration, either by relocating asylum seekers or by providing financial and logistical support to countries under pressure, like Greece. This proposal represents a significant step towards addressing Greece's calls for fairer burden-sharing.
However, the new pact has faced resistance from some member states, particularly those in Eastern Europe, which have been reluctant to accept mandatory relocation quotas. Greece, along with other southern European countries, continues to advocate for a robust solidarity mechanism to ensure that the The burden of managing migration is shared more equitably across the EU.
Challenges and Criticisms of Greece's Migration Policy
While Greece has played a crucial role in shaping EU migration policy, its handling of the migration crisis has not been without criticism. Greek reception centers, particularly on islands like Lesbos, have been severely overcrowded, with refugees living in dire conditions for extended periods. The infamous Moria camp, which burned down in September 2020, had been housing several times its intended capacity, and reports of violence, inadequate healthcare, and poor sanitation were widespread.
Human rights organizations have also raised concerns about Greece's handling of asylum applications and allegations of pushbacks, where migrants are forced back to Turkey without being given the opportunity to apply for asylum. These practices, if verified, would violate international and EU law, casting a shadow on Greece's role in managing migration flows.
Despite these challenges, Greece remains a critical player in the EU's ongoing migration reform discussions. The country's experiences on the frontlines of the migration crisis have shaped its policy positions and underscored the need for greater EU solidarity and cooperation.
Conclusion
Greece's role in EU migration policy reform is multifaceted and complex. As a frontline state, it has borne the brunt of the migration crisis, highlighting the shortcomings of the EU's existing migration framework, particularly the Dublin Regulation. Greece's geographic position, coupled with the geopolitical tensions at its border with Turkey, has further complicated its role in managing migration flows.
Nevertheless, Greece has been an important advocate for a more balanced and equitable EU migration policy, pushing for greater solidarity and burden-sharing among member states. The proposed EU Pact on Migration and Asylum represents a significant step in this direction, though challenges remain in securing the consensus of all member states.
As the EU continues to grapple with migration challenges, Greece's experiences and policy positions will remain central to shaping the future of EU migration policy. The country's role in pushing for reform underscores the importance of collective responsibility in managing migration, a challenge that is likely to persist for years to come.