Türkiye is included in the list of "safe third countries" for specific categories of asylum applicants in Greece, according to a joint ministerial decision (KYA) published on Wednesday.

The KYA was signed by Migration & Asylum Minister Makis Voridis and Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis, and relates to Greece's National List of Safe Third Countries. It specifically refers to asylum applicants who originate from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Somalia.

At the same time, the decision will allow the immediate rejection of asylum applicants who are nationals of the above-named countries and have entered Greece illegally from Türkiye, allowing as well their return. A Migration Ministry statement noted that "the basic priority is the return of all those living in Greece illegally."

Issuing the KYA decision was necessary due to the annulment of an earlier related decision by the Council of State.