ELIL provides crucial legal assistance to thousands of refugees in Greece and Poland. In Greece, ELIL assists refugees with accessing the asylum procedure, family reunification and first instance interview preparation. In Poland, ELIL helps refugees apply for asylum and protects them from violence and illegal pushbacks at the Belarus border. By ensuring fair asylum processes and safeguarding human rights, ELIL upholds the rule of law and supports people seeking safety.
Rising arrivals, stricter rules, and increasingly hostile political environments in both countries have made legal aid more urgent than ever. Greece has seen many legal organizations close or downsize, while conditions at the Poland–Belarus border have worsened, with women and children facing violent pushbacks and detention. With only a few asylum lawyers available, refugees are left with little support.
ELIL provides legal assistance directly at the borders, delivering highly effective results. In Greece, refugees who meet with our team are, on average, more than twice as likely to be granted asylum. In Poland, we have filed over 60 successful interim-measure applications before the European Court of Human Rights and have a 98% success rate in preventing pushbacks.
We also support thousands of refugees from Ukraine across four locations in Warsaw. By ensuring fair asylum procedures and safeguarding human rights, ELIL upholds the rule of law and protects people seeking safety in Greece and Poland.
You can donate by debit/credit card using the form to the left or via bank transfer (account details below), GlobalGiving, PayPal or BetterPlace . We are extremely grateful for all donations.
Beneficiary: European Lawyers in Lesvos gGmbH
Address: Littenstraße 11, 10179 Berlin, Germany
Bank: Deutsche Bank, Otto-Suhr-Allee 6-16, 10585 Berlin, Germany
IBAN: DE95 1007 0024 0088 9998 00
SWIFT/BIC: DEUTDEDBBER
Payment Reference: Donation to European Lawyers in Lesvos gGmbH
All donors can be provided with a donation receipt upon request. Donors in Germany will receive a donation receipt compliant with German law.