European Lawyers in Lesvos

ELIL provides free, independent legal support to asylum seekers in Greece and Poland — helping people prepare for their asylum interviews, tell their stories clearly, and understand their rights. Since 2016, we've stood beside over 42,000 people, including 9,000 children. In Greece, 69.9% of those we've supported have been granted asylum, against a national average of 44.3%. At the Poland-Belarus border, we've prevented pushbacks in 99% of cases.

But the ground beneath this work is shifting. Greece and Poland have both introduced harsher asylum measures. NGOs face mounting pressure and shrinking resources. There is still no state legal aid system for asylum seekers in Greece, and at the Polish border, access to protection is under constant threat.

ELIL is one of the very few organisations still on the ground, making sure people have the support they need to be heard.

Run with ELIL. Help people seeking safety access their rights.