Ten years after the EU–Türkiye Statement, its effects continue to shape the asylum system in Greece. In Samos, the Samos Legal Centre supports people seeking protection so that they can understand the procedure and exercise their rights.

An agreement that transformed asylum in Greece

On 18 March 2016, the European Union and Türkiye adopted a statement aimed, among other things, at reducing irregular arrivals to the Greek islands. Under certain conditions, the arrangement provided for returns to Türkiye, alongside a resettlement mechanism for Syrian refugees to the European Union.

The implementation of this policy contributed to making the concept of a “safe third country” a central element of the Greek asylum system. Since 2021, Türkiye has been designated as a “safe third country” for several nationalities, including Syrian, Afghan, Somali, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals.

Ten years on, effects are still felt

Actual returns to Türkiye are now very limited. According to Refugee Support Aegean and PRO ASYL, 2,253 people have been returned under the Statement, and Türkiye has not accepted readmissions since March 2020.

Nevertheless, the legal framework resulting from this policy continues to evolve. In March 2025, the Greek Council of State annulled the decision designating Türkiye as a safe third country for several nationalities. A new ministerial decision adopted in April 2025 has since been challenged in further legal proceedings.

In Samos, access to legal assistance remains essential

For people arriving on the island, these developments have concrete consequences, determining the procedure that will apply, the applicable timeframes and the possibilities for appeal.

The Samos Legal Centre, a project led by Avocats Sans Frontières France, provides free legal information, individual consultations, asylum interview preparation and support tailored to people in vulnerable situations.

Concrete needs, individual journeys

Between April and June 2026, 162 asylum seekers took part in legal information sessions, 53 individual asylum interview preparations were carried out and 42 requests were submitted to the Greek authorities. During the same period, 170 new numbers contacted our legal assistance helpline.

The journeys of the people supported by the Centre demonstrate the importance of individually assessing protection claims. During the quarter, the Centre supported a Cameroonian woman who had experienced violence and trafficking in Türkiye, as well as a young Syrian man persecuted because of his sexual orientation. Both were ultimately granted refugee status in Greece.

From individual assistance to advocacy

The Centre’s work also includes documenting barriers to rights and advocacy. In spring 2026, the Centre contributed with Human Rights Legal Project to a United Nations Universal Periodic Review submission concerning the detention of foreign nationals, including unaccompanied minors, at Samos’s Closed Controlled Access Centre.

Ten years on: ensuring access to rights

The European and Greek asylum framework continues to evolve. In Samos, one need remains constant: enabling people seeking international protection to understand the procedure they face and effectively access their rights.

This is the mission of the Samos Legal Centre and, more broadly, the commitment of Avocats Sans Frontières France: putting the law at the service of people and contributing, through access to justice, to the effective protection of human rights.

Find out more

Read the latest Samos Legal Centre newsletter for project updates, figures from our work, testimonies and our advocacy initiatives.

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