Interview of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi to Kathimerini newspaper
During his visit to Ritsona Facility, High Commissioner Filippo Grandi engaged with children attending the site’s kindergarten, along with their teachers. He listened attentively as they expressed their eagerness to learn Greek. © UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis
The EU Pact has the potential to ensure respect of fundamental rights
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi notes that there has been progress on Greece’s asylum system stressing however that efforts are needed to address the challenges across Europe. “Walls, among others, fail to address the underlying issues” he says in an interview given to Kathimerini during his visit to the country earlier this week. Regarding reception centres on the islands, he says that the conditions have improved however access to services and shops is not ensured, reinforcing the perception that asylum-seekers should be kept “out of sight, out of mind” and hindering their integration into society. The High Commissioner predicted a deterioration of the humanitarian crises in 2024.
You have not visited Greece since 2019. What would you say is the main purpose of your visit?
The main purpose of my visit was to sign the Host Country Agreement with the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, a significant step in UNHCR’s long and solid cooperation with Greece. I also met with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Migration and Asylum, mayors, civil society organizations, diplomatic missions and members of the refugee community, with a view to discussing developments and efforts to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for refugees in Greece. My last visit was in 2019, and I wanted to learn first hand of developments since then, as much has changed.
You visited structures where integration programmes are implemented. What are your impressions?
I visited some of the pilot programmes that UNHCR has been implementing since 2022 to promote refugees’ access to employment, entrepreneurship, language classes, vocational training and livelihood opportunities, in support of the Government’s National Integration Strategy. I have to say, I was impressed by the excellent work done by our integration partners and humbled by the determination of refugees to build a new life in Greece, to find stability despite the challenges, to contribute to the communities that have welcomed them. To this end, my agency looks forward to continuing working closely with the Government, municipalities, NGOs, refugee communities and the private sector – all have a role to play in helping to ensure solutions for refugees.
Do you think the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum will benefit refugees arriving in Europe?
I believe that the progress on the Pact represents a significant step forward in ensuring a more coherent, coordinated and effective EU response to migration and asylum. But in many ways, this is the beginning and not the end of the road. The current EU asylum system has, for many years, neither worked well for Member States nor refugees. The Pact has the potential, if implemented with sufficient safeguards, to ensure the respect of fundamental rights, including access to territory and asylum in the EU, but this is conditional on its protection-sensitive implementation, and UNHCR continues to call on the EU to ensure all safeguards are in place and to uphold the right to asylum.
Do you think that the level of protection of refugees in Greece and Europe meets the requirements of international conventions?
Greece, like other Mediterranean countries, has long grappled with the challenge of managing mixed movements of refugees and migrants. These are complex issues which demand careful attention and about which we are in constant dialogue with the Greek and other European governments as well as the European Commission. UNHCR continues to advocate that Europe upholds the right to asylum, emphasizing Europe’s significant humanitarian leadership role globally. Dismissing the phenomenon of forced displacement as insurmountable and resorting to tactics like building walls or violently pushing people back is not only wrong but also fails to address the underlying issues.
What are your views on the system of granting asylum in Greece?
Since the establishment of a new civil Asylum Service in 2013, Greece has made significant strides at improving its asylum system, despite encountering challenges, particularly during periods of increased flows. Notably, Greece has managed to process a significant backlog of pending asylum applications and maintains a recognition rate consistent with the European average. No asylum system in the world is perfect, and here too several challenges persist, primarily concerning access to asylum, registration of new asylum claims and processing some complex cases.
I assume you will have been informed that the population accommodated in the reception facilities on the islands has increased again. Do you think the reception conditions in Greece have improved compared to your visit in 2019?
On this occasion I didn’t have the chance to visit any facilities on the islands, but I did visit Ritsona camp in Attica. I also discussed these issues with the authorities and members of civil society, including the challenges arising during periods of heightened arrivals, when these centres may operate beyond capacity. It’s essential to recognize that material conditions in such centres have overall improved – for example asylum-seekers no longer live in tents exposed to the elements. However, other challenges persist, particularly concerning access to vital services, such as water, health care and psychological support. Moreover, the remote location of many centres makes it difficult for asylum-seekers to access shops, services and jobs and interact with the local population. Τhis reinforces the perception that asylum-seekers should be kept “out of sight, out of mind”, hindering prospects of peaceful co-existence and integration. UNHCR, not only in Greece but also globally, advocates for asylum-seekers and refugees to leave camps as soon as possible, encouraging their self-sufficiency so that they can live in dignified conditions and integrate in communities as soon as possible. Allow me also to emphasize the pivotal role of NGOs in the response, which should be recognized and safeguarded. NGOs serve as crucial allies, complementing government efforts, and should not face excessive restrictions in accessing reception centres.
Afghanistan, Ukraine, Gaza, to name only a few recent conflicts. Famine threatens 49.5 million people in West and Central Africa. Do you think that we are constantly moving towards a worse world?
It is true that we are seeing unprecedented crises and human suffering right now. In 2023, UNHCR responded to the highest annual number of declared emergencies in the last 10 years – on average one every eight days! These emergencies have resulted in a surge of displacement, leaving countless individuals and families in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and protection. The scale of human suffering is immeasurable and a stark reminder of the imperative for collective action and solidarity. We have reached an unprecedented figure of some 114 million people forcibly displaced globally. This is a figure that reflects a crisis — in fact many crises — of humanity. But we must not lose hope. It also represents the generosity and hospitality of the people who open their hearts and homes to those fleeing.
How effective can humanitarian aid be when there are so many needs?
With the upward trajectory of emergencies in 2023 poised to persist in 2024 and the number of forcibly displaced people expected to rise, the need for solidarity and support for people forced to flee has never been as important as it is today. And even more so is the need for politicians to find solutions – especially to resolve conflict so people can return home. In the meantime, increased emergencies require more resources, and this is a big challenge. We continue to call on the international community for renewed support to enable us to respond to those who are the most adversely affected by these growing numbers of crises.
*This is a translation of an interview given to Tania Georgiopoulou, which was hosted in Greek at the newspaper Kathimerini on 24 February 2024
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