European Commissioner for Human Rights criticizes Greece
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, visited Athens from February 3 to 7, highlighting shortcomings in the rule of law, migration policies, and press freedom in Greece.
During his meetings with officials, O'Flaherty acknowledged that Greece, due to its geographical position, has been struggling to manage the influx of refugees and migrants. He pointed out that European solidarity has proven insufficient in addressing this issue. However, he emphasized the need for respect for the human rights of refugees and migrants.
The Commissioner noted that new routes for migrants had emerged, particularly with an increase in crossings to Rhodes and Crete. He expressed approval of Greece’s cautious approach towards Syrian refugees.
One of the main focuses of his visit was the tragic shipwreck off the coast of Pylos in June 2023, where approximately 750 migrants lost their lives. O'Flaherty discussed the findings of the Greek Ombudsman, who completed a report on the Coast Guard's mishandling of the incident. He also met with survivors, lawyers, and human rights organizations involved in the case.
Several stakeholders, during their discussions with O'Flaherty, raised concerns about pushbacks at both land and sea borders, emphasizing that these actions were often carried out with violence.
Following recent European Court of Human Rights reports, which provide strong evidence of systematic "pushback" practices by Greek authorities, O'Flaherty called on Greece to adopt a zero-tolerance approach and ensure accountability for those responsible.
Reiterating the need for independent oversight of border security operations, O'Flaherty urged Greek authorities to ensure the effective implementation of new mechanisms established under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. He also stressed the importance of adhering to guidelines set by the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights.
Given the rapid increase in the number of migrants arriving in Rhodes and Crete, and the overcrowding in existing facilities, O'Flaherty called for the establishment of more reception centers that comply with international standards. He also emphasized the need to swiftly transfer unaccompanied children from the islands to the mainland.
O'Flaherty underscored the importance of strong states based on the rule of law that value and support the role of civil society and media. He also urged prosecutors to conduct effective investigations in line with the European Court of Human Rights' principles.
A detailed report on Greece by O'Flaherty is expected to be published in the coming period.
During his visit, O'Flaherty met with key officials including Minister of Migration and Asylum, Nikolaos Panayotopoulos, Minister for Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, Christos Stilianidis, Minister for Social Cohesion and Family Policy, Sofia Zaharaki, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexandra Papadopoulou, and the Greek delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
