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The Hotspot Approach: From Emergency Response to Permanent Migration Management

Håkansson, Emma LU (2026) JURM02 20261
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
This thesis examines the hotspot approach in Greece and its compatibility
with the fundamental rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human
Rights, with a particular focus on Articles 3 and 5. The hotspot system was
introduced as an emergency measure in response to the increased number of
arrivals at the EU’s external borders in 2015-2016. In Greece, however, it
evolved into a more permanent form of border-based migration management,
combining reception, identification, asylum processing, geographical
restriction and, in certain situations, detention.
The thesis applies a legal doctrinal method, supplemented by elements of
critical legal analysis. It examines relevant standards in the European
Convention on Human Rights,... (More)
This thesis examines the hotspot approach in Greece and its compatibility
with the fundamental rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human
Rights, with a particular focus on Articles 3 and 5. The hotspot system was
introduced as an emergency measure in response to the increased number of
arrivals at the EU’s external borders in 2015-2016. In Greece, however, it
evolved into a more permanent form of border-based migration management,
combining reception, identification, asylum processing, geographical
restriction and, in certain situations, detention.
The thesis applies a legal doctrinal method, supplemented by elements of
critical legal analysis. It examines relevant standards in the European
Convention on Human Rights, the Reception Conditions Directive, the case
law of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the Greek hotspots,
and selected instruments within the framework of the EU Pact on Migration
and Asylum.
Furthermore, the thesis demonstrates that the European Court of Human
Rights’ view of the Greek hotspots has evolved over time. In the early cases,
the Court attached great importance to the exceptional migratory pressure
faced by Greece and the short duration of the deprivation of liberty. In later
cases, the Court placed greater emphasis on the cumulative effect of poor
reception conditions, duration, vulnerability and the authorities’ awareness of
the situation. Case law therefore suggests that crisis-based reasoning loses its
force when emergency measures become protracted and structurally
embedded.
Finally, the thesis further argues that the EU Pact does not replicate the Greek
hotspot model in identical form, but that several of its features resemble the
functional logic of the hotspot model. These include screening at or near the
external border, border procedures, legal fiction prior to entry, restrictions on
movement and stricter conditions for reception. The thesis concludes that the
Pact’s compatibility with human rights standards will largely depend on its
practical implementation, including sufficient reception capacity, effective
legal remedies, access to legal aid, and protective measures for vulnerable
applicants. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Denna uppsats undersöker hotspot-modellen i Grekland och dess förenlighet
med de grundläggande rättigheter som fastställs i Europeiska konventionen
om de mänskliga rättigheterna, närmare bestämt artiklarna 3 och 5. Hotspotsystemet infördes som en nödåtgärd som svar på det ökade antalet
ankommande flyktingar vid EU:s yttre gränser under 2015-2016. I Grekland
utvecklades det dock till en mer permanent form av gränsbaserad
migrationshantering, som kombinerar mottagande, identifiering,
asylhandläggning, geografisk begränsning och i vissa situationer
frihetsberövande.
Uppsatsen tillämpar en rättsdogmatisk metod, kompletterad med inslag av
kritisk rättsanalys. Den granskar relevanta normer i Europeiska konventionen
om de mänskliga... (More)
Denna uppsats undersöker hotspot-modellen i Grekland och dess förenlighet
med de grundläggande rättigheter som fastställs i Europeiska konventionen
om de mänskliga rättigheterna, närmare bestämt artiklarna 3 och 5. Hotspotsystemet infördes som en nödåtgärd som svar på det ökade antalet
ankommande flyktingar vid EU:s yttre gränser under 2015-2016. I Grekland
utvecklades det dock till en mer permanent form av gränsbaserad
migrationshantering, som kombinerar mottagande, identifiering,
asylhandläggning, geografisk begränsning och i vissa situationer
frihetsberövande.
Uppsatsen tillämpar en rättsdogmatisk metod, kompletterad med inslag av
kritisk rättsanalys. Den granskar relevanta normer i Europeiska konventionen
om de mänskliga rättigheterna, Mottagandedirektivet, Europeiska domstolen
för de mänskliga rättigheternas rättspraxis rörande de grekiska hotspotsen
samt utvalda instrument inom ramen för EU:s pakt om migration och asyl.
Vidare visar uppsatsen att Europeiska domstolen för de mänskliga
rättigheternas syn på de grekiska hotspotsen har utvecklats över tid. I de tidiga
målen fäste domstolen stor vikt vid det exceptionella migrationstrycket som
Grekland stod inför och den korta varaktigheten av frihetsberövandet. I senare
mål lade domstolen större vikt vid den kumulativa effekten av dåliga
mottagningsförhållanden, varaktighet, sårbarhet och myndigheternas
medvetenhet om situationen. Rättspraxis tyder därför på att krisbaserade
resonemang förlorar sin kraft när nödåtgärder blir långvariga och strukturellt
inbäddade.
Slutligen argumenterar uppsatsen vidare för att EU-pakten inte fullständigt
efterliknar den grekiska hotspot-modellen, men att flera av dess inslag liknar
hotspot-modellens funktion. Dessa inkluderar screening vid eller nära den
yttre gränsen, gränsförfaranden, juridiska gråzoner före inresa,
rörelsebegränsningar och strängare villkor för mottagande. Uppsatsen drar
slutsatsen att paktens förenlighet med människorättsnormer i stor
utsträckning kommer att bero på dess praktiska genomförande, inklusive
tillräcklig mottagningskapacitet, effektiva rättsmedel, tillgång till rättshjälp
och skyddsåtgärder för särskilt sårbara asylsökanden. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Håkansson, Emma LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20261
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
Public international law, Migration law, ECHR, Reception conditions, EU Pact on Migration and Asylum
language
English
id
9227038
date added to LUP
2026-06-10 17:18:16
date last changed
2026-06-10 17:18:16
@misc{9227038,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the hotspot approach in Greece and its compatibility
with the fundamental rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human
Rights, with a particular focus on Articles 3 and 5. The hotspot system was
introduced as an emergency measure in response to the increased number of
arrivals at the EU’s external borders in 2015-2016. In Greece, however, it
evolved into a more permanent form of border-based migration management,
combining reception, identification, asylum processing, geographical
restriction and, in certain situations, detention.
The thesis applies a legal doctrinal method, supplemented by elements of
critical legal analysis. It examines relevant standards in the European
Convention on Human Rights, the Reception Conditions Directive, the case
law of the European Court of Human Rights concerning the Greek hotspots,
and selected instruments within the framework of the EU Pact on Migration
and Asylum.
Furthermore, the thesis demonstrates that the European Court of Human
Rights’ view of the Greek hotspots has evolved over time. In the early cases,
the Court attached great importance to the exceptional migratory pressure
faced by Greece and the short duration of the deprivation of liberty. In later
cases, the Court placed greater emphasis on the cumulative effect of poor
reception conditions, duration, vulnerability and the authorities’ awareness of
the situation. Case law therefore suggests that crisis-based reasoning loses its
force when emergency measures become protracted and structurally
embedded.
Finally, the thesis further argues that the EU Pact does not replicate the Greek
hotspot model in identical form, but that several of its features resemble the
functional logic of the hotspot model. These include screening at or near the
external border, border procedures, legal fiction prior to entry, restrictions on
movement and stricter conditions for reception. The thesis concludes that the
Pact’s compatibility with human rights standards will largely depend on its
practical implementation, including sufficient reception capacity, effective
legal remedies, access to legal aid, and protective measures for vulnerable
applicants.}},
  author       = {{Håkansson, Emma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Hotspot Approach: From Emergency Response to Permanent Migration Management}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}