Newcomers’ housing commons vs military campization in Greece

Dr Charalampos Tsavdaroglou, USI visiting scholar​

Tuesday 21 May 2024, 12 - 2 p.m.University of Antwerp, S.M.101 (campus map)

During the recent refugee crisis, which we prefer to call here “reception crisis” numerous solidarity initiatives emerged in Greece and especially in Mytilene, Athens and Thessaloniki. Mytilene is the capital of Lesvos Island and the main entry point in the East Aegean Sea, Athens is the main transit city and Thessaloniki is the biggest city close to the northern borders.

After the EU–Turkey Common Statement, the Balkan countries sealed their borders and thousands of people on the move found themselves stranded in Greece. The State accommodation policy provides the majority of the newcomers with residency in inappropriate camps which are mainly located in isolated old military bases and abandoned factories.

The lecture contrasts the EU and Greek state polices which increasingly take the form of military management to the solidarity and commoning practices such as self-organised newcomers’ housing projects, which claim the right to the city and to spatial justice.