knowledge of them at any stage of the procedure, and b) the compatibility of the provisions of Article 100(10) Asylum Code with the provisions of Article 5 of Directive 2008/115/EC, according to which the adoption of a return decision is precluded where the principle of non-refoulement is infringed. This case concerns a Syrian refugee whose refugee status was revoked as it was held that "there are grounds for considering the applicant to be reasonably considered a danger to national security". The dismissal decision was based solely on a confidential document, the content of which and/or the essential elements of the file and/or at least the essential content of the grounds on which the withdrawal of the status granted was based, were not communicated to him or to his lawyer. As a result, it was impossible for the refugee to exercise effectively the right of defence and the right to an effective remedy. 1373 The Council of State (Plenary Session) issued decision No. 535/2026 on 6 May 2026 concerning the withdrawal of refugee status, access to case-file information, and the principle of non-refoulement. The Court held that when refugee status is revoked on grounds that the individual is considered a threat to national security, access to information in the administrative file may exceptionally be restricted, subject to strict procedural and substantive safeguards balancing the right to be heard and effective judicial protection against national security interests. It further clarified that such limitations must not amount to an absolute denial of access and must comply with EU procedural guarantees.The Court also confirmed that a return decision may be issued simultaneously with the revocation of refugee status, provided that the destination country is clearly specified and that the principle of non-refoulement is strictly respected at every stage of the procedure, including by administrative authorities, the Appeals Committees, police authorities executing removal, and the courts reviewing the case. The assessment must be individualized and up to date at each procedural stage.1374 The procedure described in Cessation is applicable to withdrawal cases. On 12 April 2021, the Asylum Service issued a circular providing clarifications on the procedure regarding the provision of an opinion on the grounds of exclusion and revocation of the status of international protection prescribed by Article 91 IPA, as well as the renewal of residence permits (Article 2 IPA). 1375 Μore over, on 14 February 2022, the Asylum Service issued a circular providing clarification on the commission of a serious crime and its consequences for granting and withdrawal of international protection status.1376 During 2025, excluding the aforementioned 11 cases of cessation, the Asylum Service withdrew international protection in an additional 188 cases, the majority of which concerned nationals of Afghanistan (53), Türkiye (40), Palestine (29), Syria (29), and Iraq (21). The main ground for withdrawal related to “danger for the community” findings following a final conviction for a serious criminal offence (106 cases), followed by national security grounds (54).1377 More recently, in April 2026, the MoMA also announced that between 1 May 2026 to 9 April 2026, the GAS proceeded with the revocation of international protection in 1,203 cases, all of which concerned Syrian nationals.1378 1373 1374 1375 1376 1377 1378 Decision no. ΙΡ/433248/18.7.2024 of the 3rd Independent Appeals Committee. Council of State (Plenary), Decision No. 535/2026, published 6 May 2026. Available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/4ntj3t5d. MoMA, 3716/12-4-21, Διευκρινίσεις – ορισμός διαδικασίας σχετικά με την παροχή γνώμης περί συνδρομής ή μη συνδρομής λόγων αποκλεισμού, την ανάκληση καθεστώτος διεθνούς προστασίας του αρ. 91 ν.4636/2019, καθώς και την ανανέωση των αδειών διαμονής του αρ. 24 ν.4636/2019, μετά τη θέση σε ισχύ του ΠΔ 106/2020, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3niHX8J. MoMA, 87206/14.02.2022, Διάπραξη σοβαρού εγκλήματος και οι συνέπειές της στη χορήγηση και ανάκληση του καθεστώτος διεθνούς προστασίας, 14 February 2022, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/3IeaaYQ. RSA, Recognised refugee statistics in Greece in 2025, March 2026, available at: https://tinyurl.com/435psr2v, pp.6-7. MoMA, “1,203 revocations of international protection status for Syrian nationals – Greece leads the way with 50% of voluntary returns from the EU to Syria”, 14 April 2026, available in Greek at: https://tinyurl.com/2z6jkua2. 269