Dublin transfers to Greece to be gradually resumed

The Commission recommends today that transfers to Greece should be resumed gradually, only for asylum seekers for whom Greece is responsible from 15 March 2017, and subject to individual assurances from the Greek authorities.

Today, the Commission adopted its Fourth Recommendation on the resumption of Dublin transfers to Greece as a step towards a normal functioning of the rules of the Dublin system.

In order to avoid that an unsustainable burden is placed on Greece, the resumption of transfers will not be applied retroactively and will only concern asylum applicants who have entered Greece irregularly from 15 March 2017 onwards or for whom Greece is responsible from 15 March 2017 under other Dublin criteria.

Applicants should only be transferred if the Greek authorities give individual assurances in each case
that the applicant will be treated in accordance with EU law. Vulnerable asylum applicants, including unaccompanied minors, should not be transferred to Greece for the time being.

An EASO team of experts from Member States should be set up to support the cooperation between Member States and to report on whether the persons transferred back to Greece are treated in accordance with the
assurances provided by the Greek authorities.

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Publication Date: Thu 08 Dec 2016
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