On April 8, a Greek juvenile court on the island of Lesbos acquitted three Afghan migrants in the infamous 2020 Moria refugee camp fire case. Initially convicted and sentenced to ten years in 2021, the trio had been considered adults at the time of the incident. However, their ages—15, 16, and 17—were later verified through official documentation, which was initially overlooked by authorities.
Instead of accepting official documents, authorities had relied on wrist X-rays, a controversial and unreliable method for age determination. Though now acquitted, the three migrants had already spent three years behind bars and are expected to seek compensation for wrongful imprisonment.
The fire that destroyed the overcrowded Moria camp in September 2020 intensified debates about Greece’s handling of the migrant crisis and its reception infrastructure. The latest ruling serves as a legal milestone and sheds light on the treatment of underage migrants in European jurisdictions.
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Eighteen Lives Lost in the Aegean in a Single Day
On April 6, tragedy struck in the Aegean Sea with two separate migrant boat disasters resulting in at least 16 confirmed deaths. The first boat sank near Lesbos, while the second went down off the coast of Ayvacik, in northwestern Turkey. Greek coast guards managed to rescue 23 individuals from the first wreck. According to reports, around 30 migrants had set off from Turkey.
These tragedies underscore the enduring peril of Mediterranean crossings for those seeking refuge in Europe. The Aegean Sea remains a deadly migration corridor, particularly for those journeying from conflict-ridden regions of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
UK Strengthens Migration Controls with New Balkan Accords
In a diplomatic push to control irregular migration, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced new bilateral agreements with Kosovo and Serbia during his April visit to the region. The UK aims to intensify cooperation against organized crime and human trafficking, particularly targeting smuggling networks that exploit the Balkan route to access Western Europe.
According to a UK government press release, the agreements are designed to “disrupt the gangs at the heart of the irregular migration crisis” and secure UK borders ahead of a major Western Balkans diplomatic summit this fall. The move follows previous pacts between the UK and Serbia under both the current Labour government and its Conservative predecessors.
Lammy’s trip also included engagements with survivors of human trafficking, as the UK doubles down on efforts to humanize its crackdown on illegal migration while maintaining a hardline stance.
Italy Plans to Turn Albanian Asylum Centers into Deportation Facilities
On March 31, the Italian cabinet approved a controversial decree converting asylum centers in Albania into repatriation facilities for undocumented migrants. The decision has been criticized as a costly publicity stunt, with some estimates placing the project’s cost in the hundreds of millions of euros.
Immigration law expert Guido Savio called the centers “empty and ineffective,” noting that the government’s real aim may be to “show these facilities are functioning—even if only cosmetically.” The move anticipates EU-wide migration policy reforms set to take effect in 2027, allowing migrant processing in third countries.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hopes Italy’s lead in externalizing migration policy will serve as a model for other EU nations, reinforcing Rome’s influence within the bloc.
Greece Condemned for Death of Iraqi Minor by ECHR
On March 27, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled against Greece in the case of Ameer Mokhlas, an Iraqi teenager fatally shot by a Greek coast guard officer during a 2015 boat interception near the island of Symi. The yacht, flying a Turkish flag, was carrying undocumented migrants when the shooting occurred.
The ruling reaffirms the court’s stance on the unlawful use of force and the obligation of EU member states to safeguard migrant lives during border enforcement operations.
Balkan Route Remains Vital Despite Tightened EU Borders
The Balkan route continues to be a major entry point into the European Union for migrants from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. As EU nations reinforce their borders and deploy Frontex forces, the region increasingly functions as a bottleneck or “gateway” into Fortress Europe.
Despite increased cooperation between European governments, human rights advocates warn that border externalization and militarized responses often come at the cost of migrant dignity and safety.
This article is originally published on: courrierdesbalkans
