The new Pact on Asylum and Migration, which overhauls the European framework for migration and asylum management, enters into full effect across the European Union on on Friday, June 12, 2026.
In Greece, the legislative framework of the pact’s provisions into national law was approved by Parliament on June 9, aligning the country with the new European procedures governing border management, asylum processing and migrant returns.
The Greek legislation implementing the Pact is built around four key pillars:
- the introduction of mandatory screening procedures at the EU’s external borders through the upgraded Eurodac system
- the acceleration of asylum procedures via stricter deadlines and enhanced border processes
- the strengthening of the return framework for individuals not eligible for international protection
- the country’s overall alignment with the new European migration management model, which places greater emphasis on border security and closer cooperation with European agencies.
A prominent element of the new framework is the debate over the establishment of so-called “return hubs” – facilities located in third countries outside the EU for individuals whose asylum applications have been definitively rejected.
According to Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris, Greece is participating alongside Germany, Denmark, Austria and Netherlands in a joint initiative to advance the proposal, while discussions are ongoing with third countries aimed at concluding the first relevant agreements.
we have thousands of migrants arriving while at the same time we bring thousands of Asian to do work Greeks dont want to mainly duse to low wages paid by Greek employers. Doesn’t ti tmake more sense to give the migrants work so thye can keep them selves duing theeir processing? maybe day release from camps to go to work if there is a security issue rather than bringing more in?