Greece to Reduce Asylum Arrivals Under New EU Migration Agreement

The European Union’s new Common European Asylum System (CEAS) allows member states to tighten the treatment of asylum seekers and to keep large numbers at external borders. Greece has announced it will aim to lower the number of newcomers entering the country and to return as many as possible, welcoming the agreement as a way to reduce its refugee burden.

Human‑rights organisations warned that the provisions could be used to justify push‑backs of migrants across sea and land borders. German media noted that the agreement permits extensions of registration deadlines and could make emergency crisis measures permanent. Critics also highlighted that the EU intends to process asylum claims quickly at its outer borders, such as in Italy and Greece, and then relocate applicants to less burdened states in exchange for support.