By April this year almost 900 refugees travelled from Greece to Germany to reunite with their relatives, but from April the number of people reaching Germany had dropped to about 70 on average per month under an informal bilateral agreement.

On July 18, responding in written on behalf of the European Commission to a question submitted by a Greek member of the European parliament regarding this informal arrangement, European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos noted that "Germany may prolong the normal six months transfer time period for those persons" under the Dublin Regulation.

"However, in case the delays would be unduly long and might as a result affect the human rights of the applicants, such arrangements could raise an issue of their compatibility with European Community law and international human rights instruments," the commissioner added.

Refugees in Athens on Wednesday protested the delays were already too long.

"The procedure is going really slowly. We are waiting for a long long time. They are taking just 70 persons each month. This is not legal," Mohammad T., said.

Protesters dispersed after two of the representatives held a meeting with German embassy diplomats who said that they will forward their request to Berlin.

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