By Sheila Cross | Team Manager
2026 is ASsIST’s Year of Shared Humanity. It is also a year in which access to basic and essential services is becoming increasingly difficult for people seeking protection in Greece and, increasingly, across Europe.
This includes access to accurate information and experienced legal guidance, available through ASsIST in 12+ languages with interpreter support as required.
As the European Union moves from adopting the Pact on Migration and Asylum to implementing it at national level (see ASsIST Newsletter, 2026/1), administrative practice is reshaping the complicated system within which our clients must navigate registration, interviews, appeals, and daily survival. Greece is among the Member States most advanced in implementing accelerated border procedures, expanded detention regimes, and return-related measures.
In this environment, independent information and experienced legal support remain essential to fair process, enabling asylum seekers and recognised refugees to understand and exercise their rights.
Arrivals and Loss of Life
Arrivals by sea and land to Greece have continued through 2025 and early 2026, including increased crossings toward Crete and the southern islands.
In 2025, 48,771 people arrived in Greece seeking international protection (41,696 by sea and 7,075 via land borders).[1].“Arrivalsto Crete and Gavdos increased fourfold compared to the previous year, with Crete being the main point of entry for refugees arriving in Greece: a total of 20,187 people arrived by sea” – an extremely dangerous route - according to the Hellenic Coast Guard, 99.40% of refugees who arrived in Crete and Gavdos in 2025 departed from Libya [2]. Reported only as an annual figure, in 2025, 103 persons are recorded as ‘Dead or Missing’ {UNHCR}.
By 22 February 2026, a further 3,090 people had arrived (1,970 by sea and 1,120 by land). These figures frame the scale of need, but not the complexity of the situations people face on arrival. [Source: UNHCR]. In the Aegean Sea, there have already been several incidents of loss of life. On 03 February 2026, 15 lives were lost off the shores of Chios and 6 lives lost off the shore of Lesvos soon after.[3]
Loss of life on migration routes remains a serious concern, including an increase in fatalities in the Aegean Sea this year.
Behind each number is a person — a parent, a child, a friend — who sought safety. Most were fleeing war and persecution; many had already encountered violence at home and along their journey; all had suffered the loss of home and security.
Legal and Policy Developments
Recent legal and policy changes continue to reshape the system within which asylum seekers and recognised refugees must assert their rights:
While presented as administrative reform, these changes can and do result in:
In this context, early access to clear information and experienced Greek lawyers remains critical.
Our Services: Consistency Under Pressure
Despite funding constraints and a more restrictive operating environment, ASsIST has continued to provide:
From 01 November 2025 to 11 February 2026, our lawyers were managing 57 cases (37 new and 20 ongoing), involving clients of 21 nationalities across 17 locations and requiring interpretation and translation in 10 languages. Managing this caseload requires sustained coordination, interpretation, and legal follow-up.
Case Illustration
During this reporting period, ASsIST supported an asylum seeker whose initial claim had been rejected after he had not felt able to fully disclose the basis of his persecution during his first procedure. With only one week before a second interview, he sought assistance.
Our team arranged urgent legal preparation, and ASsIST’s lawyer accompanied him to the interview to help ensure that the procedure was conducted fairly and with appropriate attention to sensitive issues. Over several consultations, the applicant was able to clarify key elements of his case and present his circumstances more fully.
The outcome remains pending. However, the case has now been presented on a stronger legal foundation, and he is no longer facing the challenges of the asylum process alone.
We work with a deliberately low public profile. Our limited resources are best dedicated to serving clients on a careful, confidential, case-by-case basis.
Publications and Knowledge Sharing
Since our last GlobalGiving report, ASsIST has launched a regular newsletter series:
Two editions in 2025
One edition in early 2026 [copy attached.
Newsletter No. 2/2026 currently in preparation
These publications aim to inform by providing accessible analysis of legal and policy developments affecting our clients.
Looking Ahead: Shared Humanity in a Difficult Context
As EU and national reforms continue to be implemented, access to fair procedures is likely to remain uneven and unpredictable. Past experience shows that asylum systems in Greece are often inconsistent in practice, particularly during periods of legislative change.
At the same time, civil society organisations face reduced funding opportunities and increasing administrative and regulatory constraints.
In this increasingly difficult context, ASsIST remains committed to being prepared to assist those fleeing war, persecution, and instability with respect, clarity, and professionalism.
Your support enables us to continue providing independent information, legal guidance, and procedural assistance where it is most needed.
Donate
Volunteer
Subscribe to our newsletter via our website and stay informed.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
