Brussels, 11/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 7 February, Norway suspended the transfer of asylum seekers to Greece, because Athens is failing to meet human right requirements. Under the terms of the Dublin II Regulation, all member states, along with Norway and Iceland, are required to return asylum seekers to their country of entry into the EU. The Norwegian decision to suspend these transfers was taken after information was received indicating that there were possible infringements of the asylum seekers' human rights and on the basis of the need for more information about the conditions of the asylum seekers in Greece, said an Immigration Appeal Board press release. It is claimed that Greece has been sending asylum seekers back to Turkey, which itself then expels them to countries such as Iraq. The Norwegian Board consequently suspended any definitive judgment on asylum seekers until new information on the situation has been received and assessed. Similarly, any asylum seeker on whom a decision has been taken will not have to leave Norway, unless other previous decisions had been taken. Norwegian police have also received instructions not to transfer asylum seekers to Greece.
On 30 January 2008, the European Commission referred Greece to the European Court of Justice for failing to bring its legislation into line with Community asylum legislation (Dublin II). Greek authorities consider that, if an asylum seeker leaves the country without permission, the asylum procedure is at an end. That decision can only be revoked if an appeal is launched within three months and if the asylum seeker can prove that his/her absence was for reasons outside his/her control. Most often, strict application of these rules does not allow an asylum seeker who moved to Norway to have his/her request taken into account on his/her return to Greece. This law appears, then, to be incompatible with the Dublin II Regulation. (B.C.)