Greece asks EU to allow temporary asylum suspension
Athens wants to deploy an emergency mechanism at the external borders during sudden migration spikes.
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Greece is seeking support from other EU countries for a mechanism that would allow asylum procedures to be temporarily suspended during sudden migration spikes. The proposal will be discussed in the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Thursday, but no European decision has yet been taken.
According to Greek media reports, Greece's Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, will explain the plan during the meeting in Luxembourg. Athens wants member states, under certain circumstances, to be able temporarily to stop registering or processing new asylum applications at the external border.
The Greek government links the proposal to situations in which, in its view, migration is used as a political instrument. The country also wants more scope for returning people whose asylum applications have been definitively rejected. Greece is also discussing plans for return centres outside the European Union with Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria.
The Council's agenda confirms that Greece will provide information on a European emergency mechanism against the instrumentalisation of migration and hybrid threats at the external borders. The agenda does not say that ministers will approve the Greek proposal. The discussion is taking place within the new European Migration and Asylum Pact, which has applied since 12 June.
The European pact already contains crisis instruments for member states facing exceptional pressure. These include accelerated procedures, operational support and a solidarity mechanism. The question is whether temporarily suspending access to the asylum procedure fits within that framework and what legal safeguards would apply.
In 2025, Greece already temporarily suspended access to asylum for people who arrived on Crete by boat from North Africa. The UN refugee agency warned at the time that everyone must retain the right to apply for asylum, regardless of how they enter the country.
The discussion therefore centres on the difference between border management and access to protection. For Athens, a rapidly deployable emergency instrument is needed to keep reception and registration manageable. Critics fear that an exceptional mechanism could in practice lead to people being returned without an individual assessment.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Greece is raising the issue of an emergency mechanism with the EU.
- The EU already has crisis instruments in its migration pact.
- There has not yet been a decision on a new suspension.
- UNHCR previously warned against restricting access to asylum.
Left
Arguments Asylum is an individual right and must not disappear when arrivals increase. The EU should strengthen reception and registration rather than collectively excluding people from the procedure.
Values Human rights, international protection and equal treatment.
Consequences Stronger safeguards could prevent legal conflicts, but would require greater capacity and solidarity between member states.
Centre
Arguments The EU needs an operational crisis mechanism, but only with clear thresholds, independent oversight and access to appeal. Border management and asylum law must both remain intact.
Values The rule of law, operational viability and European cooperation.
Consequences Clear exceptional rules could reduce ad hoc policymaking, while stringent conditions could make rapid deployment more difficult.
Right
Arguments Member states must be able to protect their external borders when reception systems are overburdened or migration is used as a political instrument. A temporary suspension may be necessary to make returns credible.
Values National security, control and manageability.
Consequences A firmer border policy could limit arrivals and pressure on reception systems, but could expose the EU to legal action and criticism over returns without an individual assessment.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The EU agenda and Greece's position have been checked against official and independent sources. The text clearly distinguishes between a proposal, earlier Greek measures and existing EU policy.
- confirmed Greece is discussing a European emergency mechanism at the external borders on 1 October. — This is stated on the official agenda of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. source
- confirmed The Greek proposal includes the temporary suspension of asylum procedures during sudden migration spikes. — eKathimerini describes the proposal and the Greek government's position. source
- confirmed The EU Migration and Asylum Pact has applied since 12 June 2026. — The Dutch government cites this date and the pact's main provisions. source
- confirmed UNHCR criticised Greece's suspension of asylum applications in 2025. — UNHCR published an official statement on the matter. source
Editor's note
It is certain that Greece has put the issue on the EU agenda and wants to present a proposal. There has not yet been a decision on suspension, and the mechanism's precise legal form is not known.Sources
- Justice and Home Affairs Council, 1 October 2026 — Raad van de Europese Unie
- Greece seeks EU backing for asylum suspensions, return hubs — eKathimerini
- Nieuw Europees asielbeleid — Rijksoverheid
- UNHCR deeply concerned by Greece’s suspension of asylum applications — UNHCR
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „griekenland asiel”
- de Volkskrant — „griekenland asiel”
- RTL Nieuws — „griekenland asiel”