Berlin, Athens reach ‘Understanding’ on migrant returns through 2026
Greece and Germany have reached a bilateral “understanding” to resolve all pending asylum return cases under the EU’s Dublin Regulation, effectively suspending transfers back to Greece through at least the first half of 2026, according to Greek government sources.
The arrangement concerns cases in which Germany could have requested the return of third-country nationals who passed through Greece before applying for asylum on German soil. The agreement clears a backlog of outstanding files from previous years and covers cases up to the months preceding the full implementation of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in June 2026. Officials say the understanding may be extended into the second half of next year.
Athens considers the move an expression of German “solidarity” during the pact’s initial rollout, noting Berlin’s heavy burden in managing high levels of secondary migrant movements in recent years. Greece is reportedly seeking similar agreements with Belgium and the Netherlands.
The bilateral deal comes as EU migration ministers announced political consensus on bridging the remaining gaps in the bloc’s Migration and Asylum Pact. The agreement allows for the return of migrants deemed ineligible for asylum, the establishment of “return hubs” outside EU borders, and the rejection of asylum claims from individuals arriving via designated “safe third countries,” barring exceptional circumstances such as armed conflict.
However, tensions remain over the proposed “solidarity pool,” which would require member states to accept migrant relocations or contribute financial support to frontline countries facing acute migratory pressures — including Greece.
