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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 10018
Contents Publication in full By article 13 / 31
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/jha

EU must begin asylum proceedings against Athens

Brussels, 12/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - On 10 November, several European refugee assistance organisations called on the European Commission to begin proceedings against Greece at the European Court of Justice, for breaching its obligations to asylum seekers. Among the 20 or so NGOs that sounded the alarm are: the Finnish Refugee Advice Centre, France Terre d'Asile, Pro Asyl (Germany) and the British charity, Refugee and Migrant Justice. The Greek government has been questioned on the matter several times, particularly by the European Commission. Greece promised to improve the situation by amending its laws but no progress has been made. According to Edwin Huizing, the director of the Dutch Refugee Council, “as long as the situation has not improved in Greece, asylum seekers cannot be sent back”. Due to its geographical location, Greece is having to confront a significant number of asylum seekers. Thirty thousand applications for asylum are currently being processed. (B.C./transl.rh)

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