Many refugees granted asylum in Greece are leaving the country due to a lack of integration policies and support, making it extremely difficult for them to find housing, employment, and establish themselves. With limited prospects for rebuilding their lives in Greece, an increasing number are seeking asylum again – this time in Belgium and other European nations.
The story of Edo, a refugee from Congo who obtained asylum in Greece in 2021, exemplifies the challenges faced by many. Despite having legal status, Edo spent years struggling to find work or housing in Greece. “You are given a status but it’s only a piece of paper,” he laments, adding that he experienced discrimination with Greeks telling him jobs were only “for Greeks.” Disillusioned, Edo decided to leave Greece and has filed a new asylum claim in Belgium in hopes of getting “a new chance.”
While submitting a second asylum request is rare and difficult to defend legally, lawyers argue there are legitimate cases where refugees’ fundamental rights and access to social protections are being violated in their first host country. Armelle Philippe, a Belgian immigration lawyer, cites examples of homeless refugees from Greece, victims of police brutality, and those denied essential medical treatment despite serious conditions.
The influx of such cases from Greece and Bulgaria prompted Belgium’s Council for Alien Law Litigation to issue guidance acknowledging “problematic” situations in those countries. However, it upheld the principle that asylum cannot simply be transferred between EU states, which are expected to respect refugee rights under European conventions.
At the crux of the issue is Greece’s lack of an integration policy and sufficient support for recognized refugees. Key housing programs like ESTIA, once funded by the EU, have ended despite ongoing needs. Only a small fraction of refugees have access to the limited state assistance available.
As refugees struggle to restart their lives in Greece, their quest for protection and opportunity is now shifting to other European nations willing to evaluate their claims. While an uphill legal battle, some are hoping countries like Belgium may offer them the fresh start they were denied elsewhere in the EU.