Greek MPs approved new migration legislation late on Tuesday, June 9th, which would allow for faster deportation of rejected asylum seekers. The first destination for such migrants would be a non-European Union ‘return hub’ in a third country.
The lawmakers have been watching developments in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, which have sought to partner with Greece in sharing the burden for return and transit. Paused bilateral talks with Uganda indicate one prospective partner.
Greece’s location made it a main entry point for migrants in 2015-16—when more than a million people from the Middle East and Africa crossed into Europe—and has since seen two Aegean islands, Crete and Gavdos, under pressure from boat crossings launched from the Libyan coast.
