Skip to main content

Asylum Seekers, Hotspot Approach and Anti-Social Policy Responses in Greece (2015–2017)

Abstract

This article discusses the social and housing conditions of refugee flows to Greece in the period 2015–2017. A review of the main institutional initiatives taken by the Greek state to manage the refugee crisis, following pressure from the EU, indicates that the main form of accommodation for asylum seekers is the hotspot. In the second part of the article, field research seeks to examine the fundamental social problems encountered in the hotspots. Inappropriate housing conditions, problematic hotspot management procedures, as well as onerous working conditions for the staff are only some of the issues, which make it clear that such forms of accommodation violate fundamental human rights.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

References

  • Afouxenidis, A., Petrou, M., Kandylis, G., Tramountanis, A., & Giannaki, D. (2017). Dealing with a humanitarian crisis: refugees on the eastern EU border of the Island of Lesvos. Journal of Applied Security Research, 12(1), 7–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agamben, G. (1995). Homo Sacer: sovereign power and bare life. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin–Edwards, M. (1997). The emerging European immigration regime: some reflections and implications for Southern Europe. Journal of Common Market Studies, 35(4), 497–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casolari, F. (2016). The EU’s hotspot approach to managing the migration crisis: a blind spot for international responsibility? The Italian Yearbook of International Law Online, 25(1), 109–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, S. Y., & Phillimore, J. (2017). Gender and refugee integration: a quantitative analysis of integration and social policy outcomes. Journal of Social Policy, 46(2), 211–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Angelo, A. (2018). Italy: the ‘illegality factory’? Theory and practice of refugees’ reception in Sicily. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2018.1468361.

  • European Commission (2015). A European agenda on migration, Brussels.

  • Eurostat (2017). Eurostat Database, http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database

  • FEANTSA (2006). ETHOS—Taking Stock, Brussels.

  • Foucault, M. (1976). The will to knowledge. London: Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garelli, G. & Tazzioli, M. (2016). The EU hotspot approach at Lampedusa, OpenDemocracy, 26 February 2016.

  • Gibney, M. J. (2006). A thousand little Guantanamos: western states and measures to prevent the arrival of refugees. In K. E. Tunstall (Ed.), Displacement, asylum, migration: The Oxford Amnesty Lectures 2004. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greek Asylum Service (2017). Statistics of the Greek Asylum Service (from 7/6/2013 until 30/4/2017), Athens.

  • Junemann, A., Fromm, N., Scherer, N., & Fachmedien, S. (Eds.). (2017). Fortress Europe? Challenges and Failures of Migration and Asylums Policies. Wiesbaden: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karamanidou, L., & Schuster, L. (2012). Realizing one’s rights under the 1951 convention 60 years on: a review of practical constraints on accessing protection in Europe. Journal of Refugee Studies, 25(2), 169–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koulocheris, S. (2017). Integration of Refugees in Greece, Hungary and Italy. Annex 1: Country Case Study Greece, Report prepared for the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, Brussels.

  • Kourachanis, N. (2015). Confronting homelessness in Greece during the economic crisis. Social Cohesion and Development, 10(2), 113–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kourachanis, N. (2017), Housing Policies . The Greek Residual Approach. Athens: Papazisi [in Greek].

  • Kushner, T. (2016). Lampedusa and the migrant crisis: ethics, representation and history. Mobile Culture Studies. The Journal, 1, 200–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazower, M. (2009). Dark continent: Europe’s twentieth century. New York: Vintage Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neocleous, M., & Kastrinou, M. (2016). The EU Hotspot: police war against the migrant. Radical Philosophy, 200, 3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • NGO, A (2017). On hold. Asylum seekers in Greece. Aspects of the asylum procedure, Athens [in Greek].

  • Niemann, A., & Zaun, N. (2017). EU refugee policies and politics in times of crisis: theoretical and empirical perspectives. Journal of Common Market Studies, 56(1), 3–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newspaper of the Government (2016). Law 4375/2016 Organization and operation of the Asylum Service, Appeal Authority, Reception and Identification Service establishment of the General Secretariat of the Reception, Athens [in Greek].

  • Pavlou, M., & Christopoulos, D. (Eds.). (2004). Migration’s Greece. Athens: Kritiki [in Greek].

    Google Scholar 

  • Petmesidou, M. (2013). Is social protection in Greece at a crossroads? European Societies, 15(4), 597–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sciurba, A. (2017). Categorizing migrants by undermining the right to asylum. The implementation of the “hotspot approach” in Sicily. Etnografia e Ricerca Qualitativa, 1, 97–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spyropoulou, A., & Christopoulos, D. (2016). Refugees: “Will we Make it”? A Management Account and Recommendations for a Way Out. Athens: Papazisi (in Greek).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tazzioli, Μ. & Garelli, G. (2018), Containment beyond detention: the hotspot system and disrupted migration movements across Europe. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 1.

  • The Greek Ombudsman (2017). Migration flows and refugee protection. Administrative challenges and human rights issues, Athens.

  • UN General Assembly (1951), Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Geneva: United Nations.

  • UNHCR (2016). Refugees and immigrants arrivals in Europe, monthly data update, December 2016.

  • UNHCR (2017a), UNHCR recommendations to Greece for the year 2017, European Office.

  • UNHCR (2017b). Housing and Relocation Program Informative Guide for Local Authorities, Athens [in Greek].

  • Venturas, L. (2006). Europe and Migrations Flows during the Twentieth Century. In C. Bagavos & D. Papadopoulou (Eds.), Migration and Social Inclusion of Migrants into the Greek Society. Athens: Guternberg [in Greek].

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nikos Kourachanis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kourachanis, N. Asylum Seekers, Hotspot Approach and Anti-Social Policy Responses in Greece (2015–2017). Int. Migration & Integration 19, 1153–1167 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-018-0592-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-018-0592-y

Keywords

  • Asylum seekers
  • Hotspot
  • Greece
  • Crisis
  • Housing
  • Social policy