Category Archives: News Digest

HarekAct offers a topical and chronological collection of news on the EU-Turkish border regime under this section. We link to external newspapers and websites and do not hold the copyright.
Views and opinions expressed in the articles published on HarekAct are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of all editorial board members.

Greece to accelerate return of migrants to Turkey as arrivals pick up

Via Ekathimerini – As the inflow of undocumented migrants to the islands of the eastern Aegean rises with the improving weather, the government is planning action to ease the pressure on increasingly overcrowded reception centers.

In the coming days, Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas is expected to issue a circular, banning migrants who appeal against a rejection of their application for political asylum from a voluntary repatriation scheme being run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Read the full article here.

Surge in Turkish diplomats applying for asylum in Germany

Via Komnews – There has been a significant surge in Turkish diplomats and military officials seeking refuge in European countries after last year’s attempted coup as the number of applications continues to rise.

According to figures from Germany’s Federal Department for Immigration and Refugees, the number of asylum applications from individuals in possession of Turkish diplomatic passports has reached 292. According to figures given by Turkey’s Interior Ministry, this figure stood at 136 in February of this year.

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Two refugees attempted to swim to Chios

via ethnos.gr (translation from Greek) – In a nine hours long action two people from Algeria swam from Cesme to direction Chios, until the Hellenic Coast Guard spotted them and picked them up. Two two showed signs of fatique and hypothermia, so they were immediately brought to a hospital, where they were being treated. The two could not afford to pay for the crossing by rubber boat, so they decided to swim. Continue reading Two refugees attempted to swim to Chios