Greece has intensified its asylum policies by officially recognizing Turkey as a “safe third country,” enabling the immediate rejection of asylum applications from specific nationalities. A joint ministerial decision (KYA), published Wednesday, adds Turkey to Greece’s National List of Safe Third Countries for applicants from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Somalia.
Signed by Migration & Asylum Minister Makis Voridis and Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis, the KYA allows Greece to swiftly deny asylum claims from these nationals who enter illegally from Turkey and facilitates their return. The Migration Ministry emphasized that “the return of all those living in Greece illegally remains a top priority.”
The decision follows the annulment of a prior ruling by the Council of State and aligns with Greece’s broader push to curb illegal migration, as most asylum seekers arrive via Turkey. Last month, Prime Minister-appointed hardliner Makis Voridis took the helm of the Migration and Asylum Ministry, signaling tougher policies.
Speaking at the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Khartoum Process on April 9, Voridis reinforced this stance, stating, “There is no serious migration policy without returns and a firm stand against illegal migration.”