The European Parliament urges Greece to treat migrants better
Experts of the European Parliament urge Greece once again to change its handling of migrants. The country must improve conditions in refugee shelters, according to a report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture based in Strasbourg. In addition, so-called pushbacks - the illegal return of asylum seekers to external borders - must be stopped. The Committee reports that such pushbacks to Turkey are still taking place, even towards unaccompanied children.
According to the report, some detention centers have wretched conditions, inadequate hygiene, and an infestation of cockroaches and bed bugs. As a result, an open tuberculosis outbreak occurred in one of the centers.
The EU-funded registration camps on the Aegean islands are criticized in the report as being "inhuman and degrading." In some, up to eight people are housed on ten square meters. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture also criticizes the "excessive security measures and unnecessary barbed wire fences" around these centers, which are particularly unsuitable for children and vulnerable people.
In a statement, Greek authorities declared that the conditions in the centers meet "international standards." Extensive renovation work is planned, and reception capacities are to be increased, as well as medical care in the centers with controlled access. The authorities denied allegations of illegal pushbacks - all officials acted in full compliance with their international obligations.
The European Parliament had criticized the detention conditions for migrants in Greece back in 2020. Greece is one of the main destinations for refugees and migrants trying to enter the EU. The European Parliament, with its seat in the French city of Strasbourg, is responsible for the protection of human rights in the 47 member states alongside its Court of Human Rights. It is not an organ of the European Union.
The Council of Europe, an international organization based in Strasbourg, joined the chorus of critics, expressing concern over the inhumane conditions endured by migrants in Greece. Despite Greek authorities' claims that the detention centers meet international standards, reports detail overcrowding, poor hygiene, and the presence of pests, leading to health issues like tuberculosis outbreaks.
