GENEVA

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) expressed "serious concern" Thursday over a legislative amendment submitted for vote in the Greek parliament that would halt asylum applications.

The amendment "suspends for three months the submission of asylum applications from those arriving by boat from North Africa and provides for their return, without registration of their asylum applications,” the agency said.

"The right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right, enshrined in international, European and national law, and applies to everyone regardless of how or where they arrive in a country," it added.

The agency warned that returning people to a place where they would face threats to their life or freedom would "breach the principle of non-refoulement."

"States cannot deviate from this important principle of international law," it underscored.

UNHCR acknowledged "the pressure created by recent arrivals in Gavdos and Crete" but stressed that "controlling a state's borders...must be in line with international and European law."

It called for "strong solidarity and responsibility-sharing measures within the EU to support frontline countries such as Greece."