On 6 July 2020, the Expert Council on NGO Law published its opinion on the recently adopted and planned measures that affect NGOs working in Greece on asylum, migration, and social inclusion. The Expert Council found the measures to be an excessive interference with the legitimate activities of NGOs working on these issues. It also considered that they would undermine civil society space in Greece. The Expert Council encourages the Government to revise them so that they accord with European standards and best practices. It also recommends that NGOs be consulted before any further measures are adopted.

On 23 June 2020, following the cancellation of the April Session of the Conference of INGOs due to COVID-19, the Conference held a special short Session with four COVID-19 related thematic webinars, including “Migrants and refugees facing the Covid-19 crisis, what lessons for the post-pandemic time?”. During this webinar, the participants discussed how to go beyond declarations regarding the respect for human rights and rule of law in the field of migration, European legal standards, the positive effects and difficulties encountered by NGOs and CSOs working in the field of migration as well as how to support them in their work. In the webinar conclusions, the Conference stated that protection requires respect for rights and in particular human rights as they are set out in the European Convention on Human Rights or the European Social Charter. It is thanks to documents of this type, drawn up, adopted and ratified by states that we can ensure the dignity of all, especially refugees and migrants. The Covid crisis has shown how quickly situations can deteriorate and affect the most vulnerable, including migrants and refugees; isolation, recourse to confinement, suspension of support, prohibition of visits, etc. are concrete examples. Women and children, people with disabilities or marginalized (for their sexual orientation for example), stateless people, are the first victims. The Conference of INGOs is and remains a privileged partner at the heart of the Council of Europe to combine the efforts of all towards migrants and refugees, the Conference sad.