Crisis and the Greek Asylum System in the Framework of the EU-Turkey Agreement: Legal and Political Aspects

Abstract

Since the signing of the EU-Turkey Statement, there has been a significant reduction in the number of people unlawfully crossing European borders or losing their lives in the Aegean. Turkey plays a crucial and decisive role in addressing the refugee crisis in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. At the same time, Greece is invited to carry out an unprecedented administrative, legislative and operational project that has not been undertaken so far. Furthermore, Greek authorities have to deal with a series of urgent needs (accommodation, nutrition, asylum procedures, health) or social integration processes (education, training, access to labour). This article focuses on the legal and political aspects in terms of Greek Asylum System as well as special attention is given to the EU- Turkey statement and how its implementation impacts on Greek-Turkish-EU relations. The author notes that this discussion cannot be taken place without taking into account the European institutional and political framework as well as the greatest economic-fiscal crisis faced both by EU and Greece.

Keywords

EU-Turkey Statement, Greek Asylum System, Syrian Refugee Crisis, Turkey

Citation

Baxevanis, Christos, “Crisis and the Greek Asylum System in the Framework of the EU-Turkey Agreement: Legal and Political Aspects”, Uluslararasi İliskiler, Vol. 15, No. 58, 2018, pp. 81-91, DOI: 10.33458/uidergisi.518937

Affiliations

• Christos Baxevanis, Dr., Department of Public International Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Macedonia