POLICY BRIEF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COUNTRY REPORT: GREECE Dr Angeliki Dimitriadi, Head, Migration Programme and Senior Research Fellow ELIAMEP December 2024 Due to its geographical posi­tion, Greece is called upon to function as a front-line state that receives, screens and de­termines protection, but also ‘guards’ the external borders of the EU. Greece’s migration policy has been consistently focused on managing its sea and land borders, and on improving the national asylum system. The country is developing a paral­lel policy of deterrence and le­gal migration, with the former prioritised over the latter. Key challenges remain as re­gards reception and integra­tion of asylum seekers and recognised refugees, despite Greece receiving significant funds from the European Un­ion in the area of integration and reception.