Dismantling the Right to Asylum and Support for Migrants: The Greek Laboratory

The Policy Papers by Synergies Migrations and the Institut Convergences Migrations

This policy paper analyses the transformations of migration policies in Greece since 2015, focusing on the evolution of the asylum regime and its effects on forms of support for migrants and refugees. From that point on, Greece gradually shifted from being a transit country to a country where people on the move are immobilized, under the combined influence of European and national policies.

The analysis shows that from 2019 onwards, asylum policies have undergone a significant tightening, marked by the acceleration of procedures, the reduction of legal safeguards, the expansion of detention regimes, and the normalization of illegal practices such as pushbacks at borders. These developments are part of a broader transformation of the right to asylum, which is increasingly subordinated to a security-driven logic.

In this context, policies governing support for exiled people have been profoundly reconfigured. Initially provided by a diverse range of institutional and informal actors, support has gradually become institutionalized, conditioned, and restricted by the State. This policy paper thus demonstrates that changes in the asylum regime in Greece are redefining not only reception conditions but also the very forms of support for migrants and refugees, integrating them into a broader framework of securitized migration management.

This publication is the fourth issue in the policy paper series by Synergies Migrations and the Institut Convergences Migrations (IC Migrations), focusing on European and international migration and asylum issues. These policy papers aim to shed light on debates surrounding migration and to contribute to the reflections of all stakeholders (policymakers, institutions, non-profit organisations, the private sector, etc.). This series draws on scientific research conducted by fellows affiliated with IC Migrations, a network of more than 750 researchers in France and internationally, in collaboration with Synergies Migrations.

In partnership with the Institut Convergences Migrations