72 civil society organizations demand withdrawal of controversial Plevris amendment on asylum
A total of 72 civil society organizations, including leading human rights and refugee support groups, have issued a joint resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of a controversial amendment passed by the Greek Parliament that temporarily suspends asylum applications from individuals arriving from North Africa.
The amendment, introduced by Minister of Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris, was passed as Article 79 of Law 5218/2025 on July 11, and imposes a three-month suspension on the right to seek asylum for people arriving from Libya and surrounding regions. It also provides for immediate expulsion without registration.
In their resolution, the signatory organizations — including Doctors Without Borders (Greek branch), the Diotima Center, the Greek Council for Refugees, and Amnesty International — describe the amendment as “illegal and impermissible,” arguing that it directly violates international and European legal standards.
“The fundamental principles of the right to access asylum and protection from refoulement cannot be restricted in any way,” the statement reads.
72 civil society organizations demand withdrawal of controversial Plevris amendment on asylum
72 civil society organizations
A total of 72 civil society organizations, including leading human rights and refugee support groups, have issued a joint resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of a controversial amendment passed by the Greek Parliament that temporarily suspends asylum applications from individuals arriving from North Africa.
The amendment, introduced by Minister of Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris, was passed as Article 79 of Law 5218/2025 on July 11, and imposes a three-month suspension on the right to seek asylum for people arriving from Libya and surrounding regions. It also provides for immediate expulsion without registration.
In their resolution, the signatory organizations — including Doctors Without Borders (Greek branch), the Diotima Center, the Greek Council for Refugees, and Amnesty International — describe the amendment as “illegal and impermissible,” arguing that it directly violates international and European legal standards.
“The fundamental principles of the right to access asylum and protection from refoulement cannot be restricted in any way,” the statement reads.
The organizations stress that these rights are guaranteed under international and EU law, which supersede national legislation.
They cite condemnation from a wide range of authoritative bodies, including: The Greek Ombudsman, The National Commission for Human Rights, The Association of Administrative Judges, The Plenary of the Bar Associations of Greece, The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, and The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The resolution calls on:
The Greek government to immediately repeal the amendment, and The European Commission to act decisively to enforce EU asylum law and eliminate the violation, in line with its legal obligations.
Human Rights Concerns
Critics argue that the amendment sets a dangerous precedent by undermining core legal protections for refugees and asylum seekers. The principle of non-refoulement — the prohibition against returning individuals to countries where they may face harm — is a cornerstone of international refugee law.
Human rights groups have also raised concerns about the lack of registration, which they say strips individuals of access to legal assistance, medical care, and procedural safeguards.
Growing International Scrutiny
The controversy comes at a time when Greece faces increasing European and international scrutiny over its migration policies, particularly in the context of alleged pushbacks and border enforcement practices in the Aegean and Mediterranean.
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