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Migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos
Photo: YARA NARDI / REUTERS
The EU Commission is to sue Greece for dealing with asylum seekers.
The Brussels authority must initiate what is known as an infringement procedure against Athens, according to a complaint submitted to the Brussels authority by the non-governmental organizations Oxfam and WeMove Europe.
The organizations accuse Greece, among other things, of so-called pushbacks, in which migrants are forced back towards Turkey immediately after crossing the border with the use of force and regardless of their individual circumstances.
Protective measures in the asylum procedure are also blatantly disregarded.
The most recent Greek asylum reform offers little chance of a fair asylum procedure.
The objection deadlines for rejected applications sometimes expired before the person concerned was informed of the decision.
"Maintain and protect fundamental rights for all people in Europe"
"The EU Commission is the guardian of EU law and should uphold and protect the fundamental rights of all people in Europe," said the head of the EU office of Oxfam, Marissa Ryan, according to a statement.
The major fire of the Moria refugee camp last week showed that Europe had failed in this regard.
The camp was completely destroyed by the fire.
In the meantime, a huge makeshift tent camp has been set up on Lesbos to accommodate the majority of the approximately 12,000 refugees who had to sleep on the streets or in the fields after the fires.
The Commission wants to present a plan to reform the European asylum system on Wednesday.
Among other things, the authority monitors compliance with EU law in the international community.
If, in their opinion, a country violates common law, the authority can initiate proceedings for breach of contract, at the end of which there can be an action before the European Court of Justice - and later a fine.
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as / dpa / AFP
