FRONTIER EUROPE Human rights abuses on Greece’s border with Turkey 5 1. INTRODUCTION: EU’S FRONTIER IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN: THE GREECETURKEY BORDER “Don't you know they built a wall in the North? It is impossible to cross the land border now. Greece doesn't accept refugees anymore.” A., 27-year-old Palestinian refugee, said that the Greek coastguard pushed him back to Turkey along with 52 others in early February 2013. He was in detention in Turkey on 18 February 2013 when he was interviewed by Amnesty International. “The creation of the fence built by Greek resources is not the solution of the problem. But it is a measure, an option with a powerful symbolism, a message that shall reach nationals of third countries, smugglers and traffickers who want to use our country as a transit country for their migration to the countries of European Union.” Greek government’s response to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, 19 April 2013.1 The external frontier of the EU between Turkey and Greece is made up of a 203km land border in the Evros region in the North and a sea border on the Aegean in the South. This border has long been one of the main entry routes for migrants and refugees trying to find safety or a better life in Europe. In 2012, it saw the largest number of irregular entries to the EU out of all the EU's external borders.2 A large number of those arriving are from conflicttorn countries like Afghanistan and Syria. Research by Amnesty International has found instances of shocking human rights violations against them by the Greek authorities. In the last few years Greece has invested millions of euros in keeping migrants out. In 2012 it completed a 10.5km fence along its land-border with Turkey and deployed almost two thousand new border guards there. In the meantime, a new body established by law in 2011 to process asylum requests first began functioning – and then only partially – in June 2013. Amnesty International acknowledges the prerogative of states to control the entry into and stay of non-nationals in their territory and of the EU to support member states in carrying out legitimate border control. However, the manner in which Greece’s border with Turkey is being controlled is leading to serious human rights violations. Index: 25/008/2013 Amnesty International July 2013