The chosen focus for this paper is Greece, due to its establishment as the gateway into Europe for most refugees. Research has indicated that most refugees arrive to Europe by sea, and many by travelling to Turkey and sailing to one of over 6000 Greek islands, many of which are nearby (Lamb, 2016). They then travel to Athens, and find transportation to reach the borders of other European nations (Lamb, 2016).
Greece’s significance in migration studies is further emphasized due to the global refugee crisis, which has reached an unprecedented level. In fact, the United Nations High Commission on Refugees estimated that there are about 14 million global refugees, half of which are under 18 years of age (Lamb, 2016). This has been caused by many factors, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, civil war in Syria, and unrest in surrounding regions due to economic instability and extremist groups (Lamb, 2016). Despite the several reasons for asylum, however, many members of the European Union (EU) have been refusing asylum to refugees, resulting in a stagnation of refugee flows in Greece (Lamb, 2016). As such, one important question to investigate within the literature is the following: why has the flow of refugees through Europe stagnated in Greece?
As mentioned, the major migration patterns in Greece began with the rise in refugees seeking …show more content…
Firstly, many existing EU policies regarding asylum-seekers are not equipped for the unprecedented number received due to the refugee crisis. The Dublin Regulations, for example, require that asylum-seekers apply for asylum in the first EU country that they enter (Havlová & Tamchynová, 2016). This requires Greece, as the primary route chosen by refugees, to be responsible for processing a vast number of applications, and to take care of the refugees while processing occurs (Havlová & Tamchynová,
Greece’s significance in migration studies is further emphasized due to the global refugee crisis, which has reached an unprecedented level. In fact, the United Nations High Commission on Refugees estimated that there are about 14 million global refugees, half of which are under 18 years of age (Lamb, 2016). This has been caused by many factors, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, civil war in Syria, and unrest in surrounding regions due to economic instability and extremist groups (Lamb, 2016). Despite the several reasons for asylum, however, many members of the European Union (EU) have been refusing asylum to refugees, resulting in a stagnation of refugee flows in Greece (Lamb, 2016). As such, one important question to investigate within the literature is the following: why has the flow of refugees through Europe stagnated in Greece?
As mentioned, the major migration patterns in Greece began with the rise in refugees seeking …show more content…
Firstly, many existing EU policies regarding asylum-seekers are not equipped for the unprecedented number received due to the refugee crisis. The Dublin Regulations, for example, require that asylum-seekers apply for asylum in the first EU country that they enter (Havlová & Tamchynová, 2016). This requires Greece, as the primary route chosen by refugees, to be responsible for processing a vast number of applications, and to take care of the refugees while processing occurs (Havlová & Tamchynová,