Social Integration of Refugees in a Contestable Social Policy Context: The Case of Greece

Greece has faced enormous pressure from migrant and refugee flows over the last decade, as it serves as a gateway to prosperous Europe. While most refugees pass through Greece to reach the more economically advanced countries of Central and Northern Europe, many still remain in Greece, hoping to build better future prospects for themselves and their families. Since 2022, the number of migratory flows into Greece has dramatically increased, raising several questions for policy practitioners. The main challenge is how to reduce these flows, but equally important is how to better integrate refugees who stay in Greece into local communities. Most critically, there is the question of what the welfare state can do to support them, from education and training to employment and social security, while also not undermining the needs of local citizens, who are themselves seeking better working conditions and, in many cases, are leaving the country for a better future. This paper draws conclusions from available data from recent research and databases while analyzes the policies implemented towards the social integration of refugees in Greece, in a welfare state which has been suffered by severe pressures due to economic hardship during the last decade. Simultaneously, a review of the European Union’s migration policy, which also significantly affects the Greek, offers an opportunity to focus on the shared responsibilities of EU member states, not only in terms of social integration but also in terms of interventions that could reduce migratory flows and, thereby, the pressures on individual member states.