Greek Immigration Bill Targets Civil Society Groups

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-(--header-height)" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="ccb39e9b-131d-419b-b123-3c8192573ae9" data-testid="conversation-turn-179" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="user"> *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id="8fd43f85-2171-441e-a4dc-229f86ca6162" data-testid="conversation-turn-180" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn="assistant"> Greek immigration bill proposals have drawn sharp criticism following new measures that risk criminalizing humanitarian assistance and civil society activity. On July 11, 2025, newly arrived migrants boarded a ferry in Souda, Crete, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian realities that nongovernmental organizations and aid workers address daily across Greece. Against this backdrop, authorities have advanced legislative changes that link humanitarian work to serious criminal liability.

Legislation seeks to amend Greece’s migration code by treating membership in a nongovernmental organization as an aggravating factor for immigration-related offenses. Individuals affiliated with registered or informal aid groups could face prison sentences of at least 10 years and fines starting at €50,000 for alleged facilitation of irregular entry or exit. Transporting undocumented migrants would be reclassified from a misdemeanor to a felony, carrying a minimum 10-year sentence and fines of at least €60,000 per person. Assistance related to unlawful residence could also trigger felony charges with penalties of up to a decade in prison.

Criminalization Of Aid Work And Chilling Effects Context surrounding this bill has intensified concern. Proposal arrives shortly after the conclusion of a seven-year legal battle in which 24 humanitarian aid workers were acquitted of baseless felony charges tied to search and rescue operations. Targeting humanitarian actors again risks discouraging lifesaving assistance and stigmatizing civil society organizations that operate in compliance with international humanitarian principles.

Powers granted to the Migration Minister further deepen these risks. Authority to remove organizations from the official registry based solely on criminal prosecution of any member would effectively shut down operations without due process. Existing registration rules introduced in 2020 already faced criticism from the Council of Europe and United Nations special rapporteurs for being excessively restrictive.

Expanded State Control And Due Process Concerns Proposed legislation introduces a new certification registry for all staff and volunteers involved in humanitarian work. Broad discretion given to the minister to define certification criteria creates uncertainty and exposes organizations to arbitrary exclusion. Legal residents associated with these groups could even face revocation of residence permits after being labeled a “suspected perpetrator,” undermining presumption of innocence and basic procedural safeguards.

Such measures represent a serious interference with protected rights, including freedom of association and expression. Obligations under regional and international human rights law require that any restriction on civic activity be lawful, necessary, and proportionate. Current proposals fail to meet these standards.

Why This Matters Beyond Greece Warnings about misuse of criminal law against humanitarian workers in Greece are not new. In March 2023, United Nations Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor highlighted growing patterns of harassment through legal mechanisms. Proposed legislation risks institutionalizing these practices, setting a precedent that could reverberate across Europe and weaken protections for civil society actors responding to migration and humanitarian crises.

Safeguarding humanitarian assistance requires laws that protect, rather than punish, those offering aid. Parliamentary rejection of these provisions would signal commitment to civic space, rule of law, and human rights obligations. Ongoing scrutiny from groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch underscores the urgency of revising this approach.