The NGO Oxfam and the citizen movement WeMove Europe announced on Tuesday the filing of a complaint with the European Commission asking it to open infringement proceedings against Greece, which they accuse of violating the rights of claimants. 'asylum.
The two organizations believe in a statement that
"the Greek government has not responded to substantiated allegations of rights violations, including the persistence of violent refoulements to Turkey of asylum seekers and the blatant disregard
(of the right)
of asylum "
.
The complaint is due to be submitted on Tuesday morning on their behalf by Dutch law firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek.
It comes on the eve of the presentation by the European Commission of a much-awaited proposal to reform asylum policy in the EU, two weeks after the fire in the overcrowded and unsanitary camp of Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos.
"If the European Commission wants to show that the new pact on asylum and migration is intended to improve the asylum system in Europe, it must also demonstrate its determination to ensure that all member states respect human rights and the dignity of people, ”
says Marissa Ryan, Director of Oxfam's European office.
Read also: Greece: a huge fire ravages the largest refugee camp in Lesbos
In this complaint, the organizations believe that the new Greek law on asylum and the way in which asylum seekers are treated by the Greek authorities do not
"respect European law"
.
They consider in particular that the application of this new law prevents in practice many people without any legal assistance from appealing a decision rejecting their asylum application.
“What it is about is how Europe deals with migration.
And currently, it is by supporting practices that only lead to incredible suffering ”
, denounced Giulio Carini, of WeMove Europe.
The organizations, which detail in their complaint the alleged infringements, believe that
"the only way"
to respond is to the opening of an
"infringement procedure"
by the Commission.
The European executive can identify possible violations of European law on the basis of its own investigations or following complaints from citizens or other interested parties.
The Commission can then initiate a formal infringement procedure when the country concerned does not remedy the alleged violation of EU law, and decide after a number of steps to refer the matter to the European Court of Justice. the EU.
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