Greece, in collaboration with the EU, intends to construct a fresh refugee facility on Lesvos Island.
**Brussels — The European Union and Greece have reached an agreement to establish a new refugee camp on Lesbos by September 2021, according to the European Commission.
In a tweet on Thursday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the signing of the agreement. The camp, a Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC), is intended to house approximately 5,000 asylum seekers in a secured environment. The EU will invest around €76 million ($85.5 million) in the project, aiming to manage migration effectively on the island.
However, concern has arisen over the location, with the camp being built in the Vastria forest, a pristine pine forest area. Local residents have filed lawsuits due to environmental and safety concerns, primarily the risk of wildfires.
The ongoing migration crisis has seen Lesbos serve as a significant entry point for migrants entering Europe over the past decade. The Greek government has emphasized the need for a new facility to improve migration management on the island.
The new camp comes in the wake of massive protests over the conditions at the Moria refugee camp, which were completely destroyed in a fire on September 8.
The European Court of Human Rights has previously ruled against Greece for violating human rights by expelling migrants without due process, adding to the scrutiny of Greece's migration policies. The EU is currently considering new strategies, including the potential use of "return hubs" for rejected asylum seekers outside Europe.
[1] Source: EC announcement, September 16, 2021[2] Source: The Guardian, "Greece's refugee camp on Lesbos: How the EU let a disaster happen", September 11, 2021[3] Source: European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC), "Greek migration policy and the European Court of Human Rights", July 15, 2021[4] Source: The Guardian, "EU plans new camps for 20,000 migrants to help tackle crisis", June 28, 2021
Other controversies surrounding migration management in Greece persist, with general-news outlets reporting potential lawsuits from local residents over environmental and safety concerns regarding the construction of a new refugee camp in the Vastria forest. The politics surrounding the camp, a Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) intended to house approximately 5,000 asylum seekers, has also generated debate over the potential use of "return hubs" for rejected asylum seekers outside Europe.
