About ASsIST
Our Mission
To contribute in assuring fair process by providing information and support to asylum seekers free of charge.
ASsIST’s motto is ‘FAIR PROCESS FOR ALL’
Introduction
Professional delivery of legal and public service information, supported by individual interview
preparation, assists in ensuring that the rights of asylum seekers are respected.
Experience to date shows that interview preparation, and the presence of legal representation,
supports better adherence to a fair process. It contributes to lessening hardship by connecting
asylum seekers to available welfare services, through increased respect shown and moral support.
It is also anticipated that this may help reduce the length of time spent in the asylum procedure,
including time spent in poor living conditions in Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCACs),
‘containment’ facilities where applicants for international protection reside during the examination
of their cases.
It is widely recognised that the asylum process can be physically, emotionally, and psychologically
demanding for many people, given the circumstances in which they leave their home countries and
the conditions in which they are required to live during what is often a prolonged procedure.
Large numbers of asylum seekers, mainly from the Middle East and Central African countries,
continue to arrive from Turkey across the Aegean Sea. Increasing numbers are also arriving from
eastern Libya across the Mediterranean to Crete and nearby islands.
Greek authorities, in coordination with the European Union, detain newly arrived asylum seekers
and migrants. The ‘containment’ of people in CCACs creates significant hardship, particularly for
vulnerable individuals, including survivors of torture, children, pregnant women, people with
disabilities, and those with serious health conditions.
Access to basic services remains limited. Health care, social support, and essential services are often insufficient or overstretched. Since the cessation of the EU-funded Cash Assistance programme in March 2024, many people have been left without even minimal financial support, increasing vulnerability and dependency on limited local services.
ASsIST is committed to a fair process for all.
Our aim is to assist the asylum seeker community by providing a high standard of information
services to both bona fide refugees and those not granted international protection.
At ASsIST, we are committed to upholding fundamental human rights. For over five years, through a holistic, trauma-informed approach, we have supported and continue to support asylum seekers and refugees across Greece by providing them with free information and legal assistance.
Recognizing their vulnerability and respecting their autonomy, we prioritize marginalized groups, providing them with tailored support to overcome the many challenges they face daily. Our partnerships go beyond legal aid to offer services essential to well-being and integration.
Our mission is to contribute to fair and equitable access to asylum and social integration procedures by providing information, interpretation, referrals, and support to asylum seekers and refugees navigating legal and administrative processes.
Our vision is to be agents of hope and to contribute to a better life for asylum seekers and refugees by adapting to change and making meaningful differences.
Our core values—justice, dignity, and solidarity—inspire our mission: to support asylum seekers and refugees with compassion and determination, especially in times of profound uncertainty.
Our operational values guide our daily commitment:
- Responsibility towards our beneficiaries, our colleagues and our supporters
- Kindness and respect in supporting people who have experienced trauma
- Equity in access to legal support
- Honesty and perseverance in overcoming linguistic, legal and cultural barriers
We recently streamlined our operations, reducing overhead and operating costs to ensure efficient service delivery. Our lawyers, on-call interpreter-translators (who work in 11 languages and offer real-time interpretation services), and managers provide prompt, professional, and high-quality service.
For further information on recent policy developments, subscribe to our newsletter via this website or on request at manager@assist-ch.org
What’s Happening in Greece – June 2026
Greece remains a key entry point into the European Union for people seeking international protection. Arrivals continue by sea and land routes, including the Aegean islands, the Evros land border, and increasingly via the more dangerous Central Mediterranean route to Crete.
In 2025, 48,795 people arrived in Greece: 41,720 by sea and 7,075 via land borders. By 31 May 2026, a further 11,314 people (8,709 by sea and 2,605 by land) had arrived seeking international protection. More than half of the sea arrivals (3,493 people) reached Crete across the Mediterranean from Libya, a particularly dangerous journey (UNHCR).
Every person seeking protection has experiestays, while several mainland reception centres remain
overcrowded. Living conditions in a number of locations continue to deteriorate, and welfare and
support services remain limited and overstretched.
At the same time, access to rights has become more restricted. Laws and procedures are increasingly punitive, and practical barriers continue to affect access to the asylum procedure. Delays and failures in online registration systems have, at times, prevented people from lodging applications. These barriers prolong uncertainty, increase time spent in inadequate conditions, and raise concerns
under international and European law.
These developments are taking place alongside the gradual implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which is expected to reshape asylum procedures across Member States. In practice, this includes an increased use of accelerated procedures, expanded application of concepts such as “safe countries,” and a stronger focus on returns. The effects of these changes are already visible in national approaches. The balance between access to protection and migration control is increasingly reflected in how these measures are applied in practice.
In 2026, Greece continues to implement legislative and procedural changes affecting asylum and reception processes, while preparing for the broader implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. Recent developments include increased use of accelerated procedures, expanded application of concepts such as “safe countries,” greater emphasis on return procedures, and ongoing changes affecting reception and support systems. In practice, these developments continue to affect access to procedures, legal certainty, for many people seeking international protection. While there is increasing concerns regarding prolonged stays and sub-standard living conditions in Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCACs).
[updated 31 May 2026]